Harry groaned as he stared at himself in the mirror, he felt ridiculous. Why did Hermione have to set him up? So what if he and Ginny separated. It was only six months since they signed the divorce papers. He needed time to recover from it. It still hurt sometimes to look around the room and see the evidence of her existence. The half empty bottle of perfume he had bought her. A random sock that wasn’t his. He had already gotten rid of the bed they had shared. The bed he had found her in with another man. He gripped his tie and glared at his own reflection. He hadn’t been sleeping well. The bags under his eyes were dark and heavy. Yet here he was getting all dressed up to go on some blind date that Hermione had set him up with a ‘good girl’. He wasn’t sure how to tell Hermione that he didn’t really feel up to dating women at the moment. Or anyone really.
He fixed the tie one last time and soothed the jacket down. He had gone with a nice dark green suit and black undershirt with a green tie to finish it off. He had found out a few years ago that green really was his color, much to Draco’s annoyance when the blonde had dragged him shopping. He slid on his dragonhide boots and grabbed what he needed, his eyes straying to the dusty cane by the fireplace, before heading down the steps of Grimmauld Place and nodded to the portraits as he passed them to the floo room.
He had taken years to refurbish the old manor into a place he felt comfortable living in. Kretcher was a wonderful house elf now that they saw eye to eye. “Kretcher, I am heading out. I shouldn’t be back late but if I am please don’t wait up.”
The house elf popped into the room old and dressed in the new uniform he had been given to use, “I be understanding Sir. Is this the date the curly one gave you?”
Harry sighed, “Her name is Hermione and I know you know it but yes it is.”
The house elf sneered, “I not be liking her or the red heads you bring about. I should have killed that one you married.”
Green eyes observed the house elf, “Killing is not legal and I like you here with me not dead or in Azkaban.” He honestly felt a little flattered the elf liked him so much that he would kill for him.
Kretcher scoffed and snapped his fingers and Harry felt the buttons on his shirt undoing and redoing properly. “Master be missing one of the buttons again. Are you sure you are ready for this?”
Harry sighed and knelt, “No, I am really not ready, but Hermione won’t back down. So I am going on this date and then coming home and we can have a cup of cocoa together if you're still up.” He finished his goodbyes then flooed out and to the restaurant that he was meeting his blind date at. He was a few minutes early.
Straightening he brushed off imaginary dirt before walking from the floo room and stepped into the main restaurant. Smiling at the woman holding a few menus.
“Lord Potter, we have been expecting you. Please, just this way.” Her golden curls bounced as she gave a polite bow before leading him through the place. The marble floors glistening and rich wood tables took up most of the space, murals that moved painted on the walls were a sight to behold and one of his favorite places to bring Ginny. Not that it mattered anymore. He tightened his hand into a fist and tried to not think of the good memories as he took the seat. He wondered if he had gotten there too early but he would rather be drinking when his date showed up.
By the time the pretty young woman arrived he was nursing a fire whiskey. He stood quickly and extended his hand taking her in with a bit of fear and sadness. She was beautiful. Soft reddish brown hair and brown eyes that were only lightly coated in makeup. A pretty round face with a spattering of freckles and a single beauty mark high on her cheek bone, “Hello, it is nice to meet you.”
The female smiled and took his hand, “Hello. It is nice to meet you! I can’t believe you agree to go on a date. I’m Jessica” Her voice grated against his ears as she giggled.
Harry just gave her a smile, “Well, my friends think I need to get back out there.”
“Oh certainly! Horrible thing that happened. Your divorce was all over the paper. You must have been devastated.” Her hand came to rest on his arm.
He jerked back a little and looked away, “Uhm, yeah.”
“I must say, I find myself lucky that I work with hermione!”
Harry nodded and took a sip of his drink, “She likes to work that's for sure.”
“Yes she does, what is it you do for a living now Harry?” Her eyes dragging along his form slowly.
The wizard flushed, “Oh, Well I was doing Quidditch for a time but with my last injury I have had to take a step back from it. Now I am in between careers.”
“Oh but surely the Auror program would take you? Or even the Ministry. With all you have done.”
Harry shrugged, “Perhaps. But I am not really interested in those paths. I would prefer something that doesn’t involve fighting or politics.”
She pouted cutely, “A shame truly. You could make such a difference.”
He shrugged and looked around for the waiter, where was the woman? Maybe the food would make this experience more tolerable and less talking. He eyes scanning the crowd and falling on a curious flash of blond hair and curious silver eyes. So familiar.
“Harry, are you listening?”
He jolted and looked back at her, “Sorry, I thought I saw someone I recognized.”
“Oh, I understand. You are famous after all. I suppose your eyes would wander.”
His thoughts faltered as he stared at this woman. Did she just insult him? “What is that supposed to mean?”
She smiled sweetly, “Well your divorce was so public and there were all these rumors over what happened. It would amaze me if only one woman could keep your attention. I certainly won’t expect it of you.”
“I don’t know what you're talking about. I have never strayed my attention when in a relationship.”
She blinked in confusion, “So you didn’t cheat on Lady Potter?”
Green eyes widened, what had she just said? “Of course not.”
Jessica stared at him, “Well I guess that is a relief. I had heard otherwise.”
Harry gripped his glass of whiskey so tightly only the magic held it together.
“Is she bothering you Lord Potter?” a deep voice cut through the air.
Green eyes snapped up to catch the familiar silver eyes. The man looked so familiar that it niggled in the back of his brain, “Oh uhm, well.”
“I am not bothering him. I am his date. Who the hell are you?” The girl sneered darkly at being interrupted.
The man was massive, tall and built, his muscles easily seen through the tight button up blue shirt he wore. Tattoos could be seen peeking around the material. “Oh? A date. I see. Well, do forgive me for interrupting. Unless this is not true Lord Potter?”
Harry cleared his throat and he flushed a little under the man’s gaze. Why was he so familiar? “It was a date, yes, however.. I don’t think it will be working out. I am sorry Miss Jessica.”
The woman looked so affronted that she didn’t even bother to say anything. She picked up her glass and practically chucked it at him before walking off murmuring darkly.
The man chuckled and grabbed the glass and handed him a towel, “Well, she seemed like a peach.”
He couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up, “Yeah. My friend set me up for a blind date.”
The man’s deep laugh sent butterflies in his stomach, “Ah yes. I have one of those friends too. Well, since your date is gone. Perhaps I can join you? Would be heartbreaking to have you eat a meal alone.”
Harry laughed and nodded, “Sure, might save me a lecture later on as well from my house elf. He doesn’t like me skipping meals.”
“Do that often?”
He shrugged, “I just lost track of time, once.”
The man nodded, “I think that can happen to all of us. I must say, I never thought I would see you again. I thought I had missed the chance.”
Harry frowned, “chance?” Silver eyes looked at him and then it clicked, “y..you!”
The muscled man immediately held up his hands to show he had no wand or weapon, “I am not here to hurt you or fight you. That is all in the past.”
Green eyes glared at the man and glanced around, “Well, you did disappear after the fight at Hogwarts. Most of the others that kept fighting got rounded up but some surrendered and got their innocence. What about you Rowle?”
The man gave a sad smile, “I went home. I know what you must think of me, Death Eater… murderer but war is never that simple.”
Harry looked down, “No, it’s not.”
The waitress came around and took their order before departing after dropping off their drinks.
Rowle took a sip of his own whiskey, “My father was the fanatic, joined him in the first war. I was young and set in my ways back then, wanting to prove myself. I did agree with some of their decrees though.”
Green eyes looked at him carefully, “Which ones.”
The man sighed, “I do think the muggles are a threat. Maybe not now… but in the future. I am not blind to their technology or their weapons.Or how they go to war over things they fear. If we ever became something they feared, I do not believe we would survive such a war.”
Harry nodded, “I can agree with that. A protego can’t stop bullets.”
“Exactly. I don’t think they should be killed off, but we do need to begin taking steps, precautions. I never agreed with torturing or killing but I am not innocent either, as you well know.”
The green eyed wizard rubbed at an old scar that the other’s wand had caused, “Oh I am well aware. Your spell had a bite to it.”
“Oh I think it was far more than a bite, Potter.” A smile twitching onto his face, “I wasn’t proud of it but dark magic has a lullaby to it. Sometimes it is hard to fight it and of course, the dark mark has its way of manipulating your mind to darker thoughts.”
“So it was a sort of mind control?”
The blond shook his head, “No, think of it more as a way to influence your darker thoughts. It brings them more to the front. I was always short tempered. I am a violent person, I always have been. Especially when protecting someone, or being angry at someone.”
Harry nodded, he had a short temper too. “Which was it that night?”
Rowle seemed to think for a moment, “Both. I was angry at you because you were the reason our Lord was far more violent. I was also worried about Antonin, he was my best friend all through school and when he took that spell, I just lost it.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. I heard he died during the final battle.”
“Yeah. He wasn’t the same in the end. He was just as crazy as the man we followed by that point. It was a mercy that he died then and wasn’t sent to the hell hole.”
Harry shivered, “I couldn’t imagine being there. I never had a good reaction to dementors.”
The blonde nodded and thanked the waitress as she dropped off their food. “So” He twirled some of his pasta and scarfed it down, “These days I just focus on my craft and staying low. Finding myself again. Much like I guess you are.”
Harry nodded, taking a bite of his food as well, “After Ginny, I just don’t know what to do anymore. I wanted a family so bad and there she was offering me everything. Then our Quidditch careers and she just seemed to pull further and further away. She didn’t want to start a family until after her career, then…”
Rowle looked at him, “Hey, it’s okay. Who am I going to talk to?”
Green eyes closed as he snorted softly under his breath, “I kept it from the papers but I caught her cheating on me. I guess after my injury and retirement she just didn’t want me anymore. I wasn’t doing what was expected of me.”
“You never did well in the spotlight did you?”
“No, I didn’t.”
The conversation faded off and they enjoyed the food and soon they were several drinks in and laughing over the most random of things.
“Oh you would have loved it! Lucius was stomping around with green hair and eyebrows. It was fantastic!”
“Oh Merlin, did they find out who did it?”
“Nah, they never caught me.”
“You did it!”
“Damn straight.”
The laughter fell off into peels. Soon another couple drinks were gone and they were leaning against each other laughing as they stumbled to the floo room and nearly splinched themselves as they fell onto Harry’s couch still drunk and laughing at stories.
“The look on Draco’s face when he got punched like a muggle!”
“Oh I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that one. Is it true Barty turned him into a ferret?”
“Yeah, that was the best!”
He stumbled up and grabbed the bottle on the fireledge and downed a swallow before handing it over to the burly man who took his own swig and they both just slumped onto the couch enjoying the warmth and company without expectations.
“Never thought I would be drinking and laughing with a Death Eater.”
“Ex Death Eater.” a finger wagging in his face, “Nowadays I am just a blacksmith.”
Green eyes stared, “Woah! What do you work with?”
The man shrugged, “Mostly sculptures or horseshoes. I do work for many of the Lords and Ladies for their menagerie of creatures.”
Harry smiled and leaned against the other taking the bottle to drink down a swig. “That sounds nice. Being able to do whatever you want.”
A warm hand wrapped around his and dragged the bottle to the elders lips as he took a long swallow not caring the bottle was held by both of them, “Well what do you want to do? You certainly don’t need the money, nor want the fame. What does your little Gryffindor heart desire.”
Green eyes rolled, “Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin you know. I just didn’t listen to it.”
“You're shitting me.”
“Nah, swear to Merlin I’m not.”
“Fuck that, I can’t see you as a snake.”
Harry laughed and took another swig, “Most can’t but I am sneakier than people realize. I just don’t let others see it.”
The man scoffed, “No wonder you're so unhappy. How can you expect to be happy when you hide yourself behind some mask?”
The younger stilled, “Y..you're right.”
“Damn straight.” He took another long swig while wrapping an arm around the younger and dragging him closer, “you're the right size for a good cuddle.”
“Like to cuddle do you?”
The man shrugged, “I’m a teddy bear.”
Harry laughed and let himself lean more against the other, “alright teddy bear, do your worst.”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
The two continued to simply drink the night away.
-------
Harry groaned in pain as he slowly came to. His head was killing him but he was so warm that he didn’t have the energy to move. He was wrapped in warmth and the soft thumping under his cheek was heavenly on his pounding head. Then his pillow moved and a deep groan sounded above his head. The night came flooding back and he sat up quickly looking down. There was the same blonde man he had somehow brought home drunk as hell. He was shirtless now, the muscles on full display as they moved with the even breathing of the man. A small trail of drool from where Harry’s face had been resting against it. Oh shit.
His head swam and he gripped his head wondering how to get out of this one. They were both still mostly clothed though their shirts had been discarded somewhere. He stood up and swayed as his head throbbed and his stomach revolted. He managed to work himself to the kitchen, kicking an empty bottle to the side with a wince before grabbing the hangover cure and downing it quickly. He hadn’t drunk that hard in years.
Heavy steps alerted him and he turned to see the large burly man step into the room and lean against the frame, his eyes squinted, “Got another of those?”
Harry nodded and handed one over and the man took it and downed it without a word. “Sorry about sleeping on you. I am sure that wasn’t comfortable.”
The man grinned, “I didn’t mind. I thought it was kind of cute. I wasn’t about to shove you off.”
Harry shook his head and cleared his throat, “You can shower if you like and I am not a bad cook if you want breakfast.”
Rowle nodded, “That would be nice.”
Harry nodded and turned to start breakfast when a pop sounded and he dropped the pan whirling, “Wait Kreacher he is a friend!”
The house elf frowned at the man, “Of course Master. I be seeing him last night. But if he hurts you I be sending him away.” The Elf glared at the large man, “This way. Kreature show you to the guest bath.”
Harry sighed with relief and gave the other a soft smile.
“No worries. I am glad your house elf is so protective. It is good to know someone cares about you Harry.” then followed the Elf out.
This was not how he planned for his weekend to go but for some reason, it was a better one than he expected.
-----
After that Harry found himself hanging out with the man more and more. They had sparked a fast friendship and he found himself relaxing more and more around the blacksmith. He was completely different from the war. Then again many people were. The Dark Lord’s hold had influenced so many both with his charisma and through sheer fear and force. It was nice to know that he was accepted by someone. Even his Slytherin thoughts. Today though he was expected at the burrow but he just didn’t want to see them and go through all the talk again but he also wasn’t about to hide either.
He smiled and rolled over in his bed to get up for the day. He was going to be hanging out with Rowle today and didn’t want to be late for it. He stood and cried out as his leg gave out and he crashed into the bedside table. The old injury flaring up along his side and hip. Stupid bludger. It had done far more damage than a bludger should have and the healers said there would be bad days and good days. He hadn’t had a bad one in so long he had thought he was in the clear. “Kreature!”
The house elf popped in and ran over, “Oh Master are you alright?” He was carefully levitated back into the bed and the elf carefully got him situated.
“Yeah, Just hurts. Can you get me a pain reliever and let Rowle know I wont be able to make it today?”
The elf nodded and popped out only to return within a few moments with the potion, helping the wizard drink it down. “You need to rest, Master. Healers said you should use your cane too.”
“I am not using that stupid thing.” The last thing he needed is to be seen as weak. If there was one thing he had learned during the war was that appearing weak would get you attacked.
The house elf sighed and tucked the wizard in, “Alright. I will go tell your boyfriend.” before popping out.
Wait what had the elf just said? They weren't dating. Were they? His stomach twisted and his cheeks flushed. He did find the other attractive. His head swam with thoughts and he dragged a hand over his face before pulling the covers over himself. He wasn’t going to deal with this right now. He must have drifted off because the next he heard was a soft knock on his door.
“Harry, can I come in?”
Harry groaned softly, “Rowle, go home please.”
The man on the other side of the door must have leaned against it with the sound of the wood creaking, “Harry, you’ve known me long enough to call me Finn. Kreature said you weren't feeling well and I wanted to come check on you.”
“I’m fine.” Harry said back and shifted slowly on the bed.
“If you were fine, we would be halfway through a bottle of butterbeer. Look, you better be decent because I am coming in.” the door opened with a squeak and the heavy footsteps drew closer. The tall man looked around the near empty room, all that was left was a half filled dresser, a single mirror, a chair by the fireplace and a couple knick knacks on the mantel. “For some reason I expected this room to be filled with Quidditch things.” Then his eyes fell on a dust cane leaning against the chair.
Harry snorted, “It’s all in storage, didn't want to look at it anymore.” His back still to the other.
Thorfinn nodded and sat carefully on the edge of the bed, “Come on Harry, talk to me.”
The Gryffindor looked over his shoulder, “you're not supposed to see me like this.”
“Like what? Human?”
The younger scoffed, “You know that's not what I meant.”
The man nodded, “I do know what you mean but you need to listen when I say. We are all weak from time to time. There is nothing shameful in that. You are a strong wizard. One of the strongest in history but you're still human. When was the last time you let someone in and help you?”
Harry tensed and looked away, “Doesn’t matter.”
Silver eyes looked at the man laying in the bed and shook his head. He was going to guess never. As much expectations and responsibilities were placed on him, he was willing to bet Harry never let anyone see him like this. Not even his ex wife, “Alright. Well, I think it is about time someone showed you what it is like to take some help.” He stood and walked over to the attached bathroom and Harry could hear some rummaging around then the sound of water. What the hell was he doing?
Harry shook his head and settled down more into the warmth of the bed, he was just about ready to doze off again when the blanket was ripped off him, “Hey what the fuck!”
Silver eyes looked down at him and the grin on the others face had him second guessing the idea of befriending an ex death eater. Strong arms caught him around the knees and back lifting him clear off the bed, “Come along little lion. Let’s get you feeling better.”
Green eyes shot around in panic and he oofed. He knew the other was strong but he was not expecting this strong. He was carried into the bathroom and stripped before he even knew what was going on fully. “Hey you can't just man handle me!” then yelped when his bare skin hit warm water. Wincing a little at the temperature change before the heat fully started sinking into his skin and muscles.
“Relax, I won’t hurt you. Just taking care of you. Relax Harry.” The man settled a towel across Harry’s lap and helped settle him better in the bath, “I put one of my bathing potions in the water. It helps relax muscles and ease deeper pain. I used them a lot as a death eater.”
Harry was trying to relax but the more the heat settled in the more he found himself leaning back against the tub and closing his eyes. “You don’t have to do this.”
“You're right, I don’t. I just want to. Those are some nasty scars.” He trailed a hand over the others shoulder and chest, “I saw a few of them before but you have so many.”
“Comes with the territory.”
Silver eyes regarded him, “Some of these are very old and I know what a beating looks like but I won’t pry. We all have our secrets.” He grabbed a bottle that Harry did not recognize and dumped it into the bath before swirling it with a hand, “There. This should help.” Then leaned back to look at the other.
Harry flushed and didn’t look towards him, this was embarrassing enough, “Why did you need these potions?”
The man shook his head, “The Dark Lord was fond of torture. After so many times the pain never fully goes away.”
Green eyes glanced at him before nodding in agreement, “I still get tremors sometimes.” Then closed his eyes and refused to look at the other, “When my parents died, I was sent to my Aunt and Uncle. They are muggles, and they never liked magic. You know the rest.”
The man’s hands tightened to fists, “How often.”
Harry shook his head and didn’t reply but it was all the response the other needed. Slowly time passed and soon Rowle..no Thorfinn pulled him from the bath and dried him wandlessly before helping him into some sleep pants and tucking him back into the bed, “Uhm.. thanks.”
The man chuckled his muscles flexing as he grabbed the cane, “You should use this. It will help more in your hand than against a chair collecting dust.”
The younger male groaned, “No, it’s hideous and I don’t want people staring. I hate it.”
Thorfinn looked at him and then the cane before smiling softly, “Alright, then I will make you one you will use proudly.” then tucked him in, “Rest Harry. Please.”
The other smiled softly but was already heading to the other side of sleep.
--------------
A few days passed and finally Harry was able to get out of the bed without his leg collapsing on him but he still couldn’t go very far. So he stayed home mostly. Relaxing in his office and reading or writing to Luna and Neville who were both still overseas looking for some mystery creature. He hadn’t heard from Rowle since yesterday. The man had come every day to help him with his leg without fail. Harry flushed when he remembered the other rubbing a painkiller salve into the hip and upper part of his leg but it had worked wonders.
Kreature popped in and set a tray of tea and snacks next to him, “Master, the bigs one is heres. Shall I see him ins?”
Harry smiled, “Sure and could you get him a firewhiskey.”
The elf nodded before popping out of existence and a few minutes later a soft knock sounded and the man stepped in. His button up white shirt was half undone showing off the etched lines of his chest. The sleeves rolled up displayed the wicked tattoos, even the ones that covered up the faded black mark. The man looked much like his namesake.
The smile made Harry flush, “Finn… It is good to see you. Though it's only been a day.”
The man chuckled and joined him at the desk, “Indeed. It is good to see you up and about. Come I brought you a gift.” He set a long thin box on the desk.
How had he missed this, “Finn. You didn’t have to.”
“Nonsense. We are friends.”
Harry felt his eyes water and he slowly brought it closer and opened the thin long box and his heart stopped. There on a bed of soft cloth was a cane of pure metal. It was beautiful from the intricate engravings of a coiling snake to the cane head and the tears fell. A basilisk. The jeweled eyes bright and shimmering like the same acid yellow. He lifted it out of the box and noticed the feather crest came out and he carefully slid it free to show an ornate wand hand cover.
“So you can still have your wand and cane. Many purebloods do it as a sign of status.”
He nodded and slowly pulled out the elder wood wand he kept close and fitted it carefully, watching the metal mold around it like a glove and he slid the wand home into the cane, “It’s perfect and so beautiful.”
Thorfinn smiled and stood walking around the desk, “Will you do me the honor of using this craft of mine?”
Harry stood and carefully set it on the ground and leaned into the already warming metal, “It would be an honor Finn.”
The large man smiled and leaned forward cupping the younger’s cheek before slotting their lips together with a soft growl.