Chapter 6
Harry woke up coughing. He rubbed his face roughly and groaned. Yesterday he had gone to work hoping to sit at his desk all day now, knowing that was all he could do, he dreaded the thought. He showered and dressed slowly. In the kitchen Kreacher was preparing a breakfast tray with tea, honey, and scones.
“To go please Kreacher.” Harry coughed.
“Kreacher thought perhaps the Master would work from home today, so as to not disturb others with his cough.”
“An excellent idea.” Harry concluded. “Please owl the department for me to let them know I’ll be home today…. Actually all this week.”
“Very well.” Kreacher raised his hand and sent the tray floating up towards the office. Harry followed it and sat down at the large desk. He looked around the room, it had really come along. The walls were painted with soft muted murals and a new seating area had been created with large leather covered chairs and a small table. Across from them on the other side of the doorway was a corner bookshelf. On the wall next to it was a television and on the floor underneath a record player next to stacks of records. Harry abandoned the desk and shuffled through the vinyls until he found a suitable companion. The music wove through the empty room and Harry laid on the floor soaking it in. Kreacher delivered a thick envelope that the ministry had sent for Harry to review.
At midnight Kreacher suggested forcefully that Harry retire from his work for the evening. It was so absorbing that he almost ignored Kreacher but between his aching throat and throbbing head he relented.
In the morning Ron delivered the materials Harry had requested the previous day.
“You look like hell.” Ron commented, setting down the last sealed box.
“I’m sick.” Harry said through a cough.
“I thought you just didn’t want to come into work.” Ron shrugged.
“Well, that too.”
“You get things straightened out with your doctor?” Ron still didn’t know who Harry’s physician was. Harry could only imagine the riot it would cause.
“Not really.”
“Whatcha gonna do?”
“Not sure.” Harry admitted. He could see Ron thinking and knew whatever plan he came up with wouldn’t work, so he continued. “For now I’ll just keep reviewing this case.”
“Yeah what is all this?” He motioned to the boxes of documents.
“You weren’t given the case?” Ron shook his head no. “I better not say then Ron.”
“Okay Harry.” Ron mocked rolling his eyes on his way out the door.
Harry cracked his back, coughed roughly, and opened the nearest box. He fell, with intense interest, back down the rabbit hole.
All at once the papers Harry was studying went blank. Someone must be in the house, for the enchanted documents redacted themselves to preserve confidentiality. He set them down and turned to call for Kreacher, but Kreacher was already there.
“Master Malfoy is here.”
“Show him in please.” Harry answered after a moment. He attempted to straighten up his desk while he waited. Malfoy cleared his throat from the doorway.
“Come in.” Harry didn’t look up from his desk but kept tidying up. He heard Draco enter and wait for Harry to finish. He finally gave up and stood to face him.
Malfoy was dressed in another black three piece suit but with a cream colored shirt. Harry thought he looked very much like a banker, a very nice looking banker. He shook the thought from his head.
“Kreacher called for me. Says you have a cough.” Malfoy lifted his case as he spoke.
“Oh,” Harry would have to speak with Kreacher about calling for someone without consulting him, especially if it was for Malfoy.
“Do you not?” Draco was confused by Harry’s reaction.
“No, I mean yes, I do.” Harry tried to fight to concentrate. “I have a cough but it’s fine.”
“I see.” He looked unconvinced.
“But if you’re here…” Harry trailed off. He really would be able to get more work done if he got over his little cold. Malfoy motioned for Harry to sit in one of the chairs. With a blank expression he dragged his fingers down Harry’s throat. He rested one hand on Harry’s chest and closed his eyes concentrating. Harry felt flush, could Malfoy feel his heart racing in these close quarters?
“Harry,” Malfoy interrupted Harry’s thoughts. “I’m trying to listen to your breathing.” Harry said nothing. He just stared at Draco’s closed eyelids and tried to decide if just subtlety they were a little purple.
“I need you to breathe.” Draco’s lips turned up, just slightly when he said this. Harry drew in a large breath, unaware he had been holding it this whole time. Harry should’ve felt embarrassed, but all he felt was Malfoy still touching him. He suddenly remembered something, a time from Hogwarts when Malfoy had shoved into Harry in the hallway. Draco had sneered and laughed with his friends, but Harry had always sworn he felt his fingers drag lightly over his hand. And now those same fingers were back, lightly dragging over his chest, stirring up the same electric emotions. Then Harry remembered another fact: Draco Malfoy absolutely positively did not like Him.
“You’re lucky this didn’t become pneumonia.” Malfoy scolded and looked at Harry the way he always did, as if he was an idiot. Harry packed up his unspoken mass of confusing feelings for the blonde haired boy and placed them back in the recesses of his mind.
“It’s just a cough.” Harry stood and crossed the room back to his desk.
“I’ll have Kreacher pick you up a tincture.” He was furiously scribbling on a pad ignoring Harry. Kreacher appeared and collected the script, bowing to Malfoy before disappearing.
“Will that be all?” Harry sat down at his desk and looked over at his unwelcome and yet recurring guest.
“You asked me here.” He scowled.
“That will be all then.” Harry retorted and began filling out a requisition form.
“I’ll send you my bill.” Harry nodded a reply and Malfoy stomped from the room. Harry pinched the bridge of his nose beneath his glasses.
By Friday his cough was gone. Kreacher had made sure to follow Malfoy’s instructions to the letter and the tonic had cleared Harry’s lungs with ease. The bill came and Harry paid it, smiling at but mostly ignoring an expense for ‘discourteous patient behavior’. He felt as if the whole business with his unwanted physician had been settled and relieved that there would be no further house calls. Though Harry did find himself making sure he was dressed and showered in case there was a visitor.
At noon he locked the office and set out to get a haircut before lunch at the burrow. He had been glad that the Weasley family still loved and welcomed him after all that had happened. In fact, besides the occasional loss of words when talking to Ginny, nothing had changed at all. Harry walked to the underground and managed to catch the train on time. He sat, mindlessly picking at his green sweater as the stops passed by. Finally the doors opened on his destination and he climbed back up to the surface. Walking into the salon he waved to the receptionist and plopped into a chair without waiting to be escorted.
“Harry!” A high voice pierced through the air. “I thought I must be dreaming when I saw your name in my book this morning!” The red headed woman smiled and it filled her whole face.
“It’s been a minute.” Harry chuckled.
“A minute?! It’s been months, and look at what happened!” Deena ran her fingers through Harry’s shaggy hair with disdain. He had been coming to her since he moved to Grimmauld. They had met out at a bar once, and she promised that if Harry gave her a chance she would fix his hair.
“It's not so bad.” Harry defended, but when she undid the gathered up half he could tell that it was. They both laughed.
“I’ll fix it.” Deena promised again.
“Do whatever you want.” Harry urged. She needed no further encouragement. I’m no time, his hair sat in a pile on the floor. She wiped the hair from his neck and ran a soft fragrant product through the curls left on the top of his head. It felt good, he had to admit to not have his hair covering his ears and making his sweat. The sides were cropped short with small manageable curls wrapping around the top and across his forehead. He thanked her, paid her, and left. In the alley around back he kicked the remaining hair off his leather boots and apparated.
In front of the burrow Ron and Hermione were also just arriving for lunch.
“You look better.” Ron surmised while wrangling children.
“I told you you needed a haircut.” Hermione kissed his cheek and they headed inside.
“There are my pumpkins, who wants a treat?!” Molly stole the children away to the kitchen and Ron looked relieved. He fell into a chair and let out a long sigh.
“How’s being a dad to three?” Harry sat down on the sofa across from him. Hermione followed Molly to help.
“When it was one, it was so easy. I thought hey, one more won’t hurt, but then it was two at once… these kids.. They strategize against us I swear.” He laughed.
“I remember those days.” Arthur said from behind his newspaper. He sat in the chair beside Ron. Just then the door opened and Ginny stepped in followed by a tall broad man Harry had never seen.
“Hello everyone!” She beamed and Arthur stood to hug her. The man shifted on his feet and smoothed his black hair.
“Ginny love you made it!” He let her go. “We didn’t think you’d be back in time.” Molly reappeared from the back of the house.
“This is Conor.” Ginny grabbed the man’s hand and pulled him forward. He smiled nervously.
“I’ve heard so much about you dear.” Molly shook his free hand.
“Aye, and the same.” He said back in a deep smooth Irish voice. Ginny looked up at him in a way she had never looked at Harry. If his heart was still hurting from their breakup it wasn’t now. Harry grinned up at her from the couch. To see her this supremely happy made Harry feel wonderful. Ginny looked away from Conor and saw Harry’s face, she seemed relieved to find him happy.
“Nice to meet you.” Harry jumped up and shook Conor’s hand. It was rough and warm. His dark eyes twinkled as they traded pleasantries. The rest of the family pulled him through to the kitchen as they began the formal inquisition. Harry and Ginny were left alone in the front room.
“I like him.” Harry declared and threw an arm around her shoulders.
“Me too.” Ginny giggled.
“I should hope so!” Harry squeezed her in half a hug.
“Harry are you sure-“
“Don’t worry about me Gin.” He cut her off. A nervous laugh came from the kitchen that Harry now recognized as Conor. “You might want to worry about him though.”
Ginny laughed and hit Harry’s chest before leaving to rescue her boyfriend. Don’t worry about me Ginny. Harry repeated in his head. I’m just going to maybe lose my job, get sassed by an ancient house elf - who is my only company, and also maybe fantasize late at night about impossible and very stupid old crushes.
“I know that look.” Hermione came through the doorway.
“Self loathing?” Harry asked with half a smile.
“Loneliness.” She answered back and took his hand. Suddenly Harry’s phone rang, making him jump. No one ever called him. The number on the screen was from the landline at Grimmauld Place.
“Hello?” Harry answered cautiously.
“Master Malfoy is here.” Kreacher said.
“This is for emergencies only.”
“He requests your presence directly.” Harry imagined that Kreacher was enjoying interrupting his plans.
“I’m at the Weasley’s.”
“Shall I direct him there?”
“No!” Harry said in a rush making Hermione curious. “ I’m coming home. Please have him wait.”
“Have who wait?” Hermione asked as soon as Harry hung up the phone.
“Oh it’s just um… my physician.” Harry shrugged.
“A doctor?” Molly had entered without anyone noticing. “Are you alright dear?” She looked worried.
“Oh no, no trouble just getting a physical done for work.”
“Does it have to be now?” She didn’t want him to go.
“Yes, I’m sorry. I must’ve mixed up my dates and times.”
“Wait one moment. I’ll pack you both a lunch.” She disappeared back into the kitchen. Harry turned back to Hermione who had her attorney face on.
“Ron said your physical was Monday.”
“This… is a…. Preliminary thing.” Harry was not a strong liar under her gaze. Molly returned with two lunches wrapped and Harry gave her a kiss on the cheek as a thank you. Though Hermione's cross examination was not finished she held her tongue. Harry almost ran out of the house, shutting the door hard behind him. With a snap he was back in the small garden behind the house.
Entering through the kitchen he gave the wrapped lunches to Kreacher to plate. He crossed through the entry to the snug where Malfoy was waiting. It was a strange sight to see him in the wing backed chair, long legs stretched with ankles crossed, lazily reading a thick magazine. He looked effortlessly relaxed, as if he lived here instead of Harry.
“You requested my presence?” Harry asked, annoyed at Draco’s seeming comfort in his home.
“I was thinking,” he said, not looking up. “That if you want to pass your physical… I may have a solution.”