You Might Think

The sun was breaking through the window by the bathroom. The light caught the tiles and beautiful blue shimmers glittered in the air. It would be cold today, Harry could tell by the way the sky looked so stiff and blue. Draco stirred next to him, breaking his concentration. Harry wriggled down so they were face to face. 

“Hi.” Draco said, rubbing his eyes.

“Hi.” Harry echoed. For a moment they just looked at one another. There wasn’t anything that needed saying in a moment as perfect as this. Harry leaned in and kissed the tip of Draco’s nose, making him blush. 

“Master Malfoy.” Kreacher’s voice startled them both and Draco ducked beneath the covers. 

“Kreacher, remember when we talked about knocking?” Harry said, rolling over under the sheet. 

“Yes but there is someone from the ministry here. He says it is an emergency.” Kreacher tried to sound innocent but Harry knew he secretly loved bothering him. 

“Please tell them he will meet them at the ministry infirmary. He is on his way.” Harry promised. Kreacher disappeared from the room and Draco sprang from the bed. He ran across the room to grab his pants from last night. Harry propped himself up on his elbows and watched as Draco scurried about. He tried not to but he laughed. 

“It’s not funny.” Draco snapped. 

“From where I’m sitting it’s pretty hilarious.” Harry smiled. Draco got a shirt buttoned up and grabbed his jacket. He looked around and patted his pockets before looking at Harry.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” 

“I’m not going anywhere.” Harry shrugged. 

“You really aren’t are you?” Draco said the words in a curious sad tone. Like he couldn’t believe Harry would really be here when he returned. 

“Afraid not.” Harry laid back down and stretched out his joints. He heard the door close and closed his eyes. He couldn’t imagine his life would ever get better than it was this morning. He felt euphoric and he bit his lip as he grinned. He rolled face down into Draco’s pillow and took a deep breath. All of his fears from yesterday felt foolish now. 

He pushed off of the bed with his arms and went to the shower. The smile on his face seemed to be taking up permanent residence. Draco wanted to be with him, and he didn’t want Harry to be with anyone else. He had held his hand and told Harry in as many words as he could what that meant to him. Harry wished he was here holding his hand now. The once simple action had been transformed into a more intimate act than Harry had ever imagined it could. 

Speaking of intimate Harry blushed at the thought. 

He turned the water on and bristled as it scalded him. Then as he let his body be wrapped in the warmth, he relaxed. The steam wove its way through the chilly air and Harry began humming. Before long he was mumbling, and then singing. 

“You might think it's hysterical, But I know when you're weak. You think you're in the movies, And everything's so deep.” Harry grabbed the soap like a microphone. “But I think that you're wild. When you flash that fragile smile.” 

“What are you doing?” Draco watched Harry from the doorframe. He turned to him and continued the concert. 

“You might think it's foolish. What you put me through.” Dripping wet Harry sang and stepped around the glass shower panel.

“Don’t you dare.” Draco’s eyes narrowed, but Harry ignored him and wrapped his soaking arms around his waist.

“You might think I'm crazy, All I want is you.” Harry kissed him.

“I do think you’re crazy.” Draco tried to escape Harry’s vice grip but he didn’t have any luck.

“You’re back soon.” 

“Yes, well, an emergency to an apprentice and a professional are not the same.” He frowned. “I almost fired him just for ruining my morning.” 

“It’s not ruined.” Harry rolled his eyes. 

“It is to me.” Draco pouted. 

“I can fix that.” Harry leaned in and kissed him again. “Join me.” 

“I guess I ought to, seeing how I’m already drenched.” 

Harry hurried back to the warmth of the water and waited. His smile grew wider when Draco joined him. He took soap and gently washed the other’s hair and body. Draco looked at him with a soft but strange expression. 

“What are you thinking when you look at me like that?” Harry asked him.  

“Right now I’m wondering why I don’t feel nervous. It just feels easy to be with you. Things always feel natural and I don’t know why.” 

“Do you need to know why?” Harry wondered aloud. 

“Of course!” Draco said as if it was a daft thing to ask. 

“You know, sometimes the answer is just: because.” Harry hugged him from behind and laid his head on Draco’s shoulder. 

“‘Because’ isn’t a full answer. It’s only a start.” 

“You’re such a professor.” Harry laughed and kissed the side of Draco’s neck. Draco turned the water off and threw Harry a towel. He looked upset and Harry worried his comment might have done it. 

“I was only joking.” Harry dried himself and tried to get a read on Draco.

“It’s not you.” Draco sighed at last. “It’s just that if some things in life happen for no reason then… it makes the bad things seem worse somehow.” 

“Okay.” Harry thought for a moment. “Okay, so then I love you because… I love you. And.. and you feel safe with me because it is safe to be with me. The statement of fact is the explanation.” 

“Alright.” Draco smiled at Harry’s attempt to right his world back up. “It is because it is.” 

“Do you want to go away today?” Harry had the sudden urge to get Draco out of the house and out of his own thoughts. 

“Go away?” Draco asked as he wrapped a towel around his waist. 

“Yeah, let’s just get out of the city.” 

“And do what?”

“I don’t know… walk around and hold hands.” Harry shrugged. 

“Sounds like a waste of time.” 

“I’d like to waste a lot of time with you then.” Harry smiled.

“Have it your way. We’ll do nothing today.” 

“Not nothing,” Harry argued. “We’re going to be together.” 

“Alright.” Draco conceded and though he tried to hide it Harry could tell he liked the idea. 

Harry went to the dresser and pulled out jeans and a black hoodie. After taking a look out the window he grabbed a Jean jacket and knit cap. He got dressed and then laced up his black boots. 

Draco was dressed as casually as he could manage. His white knit sweater lay perfectly beneath a calico wool coat. The olive green chinos were fastened with a brown leather belt that matched his loafers. 

“You look like a fisherman.” Draco said, assessing Harry’s outfit. “I’m not sure why but it’s… good.” 

“Well thank you, you’re very handsome too.” Harry teased and tried to wrap Draco up in his arms. 

“Get off.” Draco batted him away, annoyed at the teasing. Harry just laughed and took his hand. 

“Where are we going?” 

“I know a place.” Harry winked and they apparated. 

They broke into a field behind the village and began walking up the hill towards it. 

“Where are we?” Draco asked as the buildings drew nearer. 

“Cotswolds.” Harry said, taking a breath of the cold afternoon air. They looped through the town and over an old stone bridge. At a bench they stopped and watched the water run by slowly. Draco was explaining to Harry why the water ran slower and heavier when cold when a familiar voice broke through the air.

“Mr. Potter?” Harry looked at the man who had called him. 

“Kulkarni, how are you?” Harry stood to shake his hand. It was the field auror who had helped Harry and Ron when they came here in search of the package.

“Oh, I’m just fine. Heard that case ended up being a doozy for you.” 

“Aren’t they all.” Harry and Kulkarni laughed. “You live here?” 

“Just the next village over, it’s only five kilometers or so. Are you here on ministry business?” Kulkarni eyed Draco behind him. 

“No, no. I don’t work for the ministry anymore. We’re here strictly on leisure.” 

“Lucky lads. I’d love to quit but the missus says I can’t, something about feeding the children.” He laughed again and Harry found it infectious. 

“How is she, you mentioned she was pregnant I think?” 

“Oh she had the baby, beautiful little boy.”

“Congrats.” Harry shook his hand again. 

“Well if you two aren’t doing anything for lunch then you should stop by. Give something for the missus to chat about when her mum calls tomorrow.” Kulkarni pulled out an old receipt and began writing down his address. Harry looked at Draco who only shrugged. 

“We’ll be there, thank you.” Harry took the address and they said goodbyes. He sat back down by Draco on the bench. 

“What case did you work together?” Draco asked. 

“Oh, the one with Morrie and your dad. He helped us intercept the package with the cursed twine.” 

“That was here?” 

“Sure, we actually passed the post office on the way in.” 

“Huh.” Draco looked back in the direction in which they came. 

“What?” 

“What was that woman like? Morrie?” 

“Well,” Harry wasn’t sure what details Draco was looking for. “Her eyes were yellow, like a nocturnal animal. Her voice was sort of icy and bleak.”

Draco took the information and began dissecting it. Harry could see him going farther and farther into the recesses of his mind. 

“Come on.” Harry stood and reached a hand out to Malfoy. After a moment Draco grabbed the outstretched hand and they began walking through the village. A sign at the end of the main road pointed them in the direction of their lunch host and they turned in that direction. The road was full of long soft curves and trees grew on either side. 

“Hold on.” Draco stopped and sat on a low stone wall and began unlacing his shoe. Harry wandered up ahead and found that the wall had a break in the middle where two stone pillars held an iron gate. The gate was open and Harry peaked into the estate. 

“Sorry, there was a pebble in my… Harry, are you alright?” Draco asked when he saw Harry’s bewildered face. 

Harry couldn’t answer him. Set back in a messy lawn was a faded stone house with a chimney on each end. Out of control rose bushes grew in front of it and as Harry tried to assemble the information a large shaggy dog trotted from behind the house to bark at them. It was the absolute twin image of the picture he had doodle in his sketchbook. The dog barrelled forward and leaned against Harry’s legs. He patted its side and stared up at the house. 

“Are you the realtor?” A woman’s voice broke Harry’s awe. 

“I’m sorry?” He said as she came out of a side door. 

“The listing agent from in town?” 

“Oh no, I’m sorry.” Harry apologized. “Is the house for sale?”

“It will be if the damn agency ever sends someone.” She huffed, and then eyed him. “You in the market?” 

“Yes.” Harry said without thinking.

“Come on in then.” She waved them over. 

“What are you doing?” Draco whispered sourly.

“I just want to look.” Harry promised. 

The side door led into a large kitchen dinner with solid wood counters and a butcher block table. From there they went through a hallway that ran to the front entrance and housed the stairs to reach the upper level. The front of the house had a large formal reception room to the left and a smaller cozier snug with a fireplace to the right. Upstairs there were two double beds, a single bed, and a generous family bath. Harry looked out the windows over the back garden. 

“Come on, let's have a look outside.” She directed them back down the stairs and out the side door. Around the back Harry could see paving stones beneath the overgrown lawn and at the far edge of the property another low stone wall. The brown dog was waiting for them and wagged her tail happily when she saw Harry.

“Now,” The woman turned and began her pitch. “It’s all included: furnishings, equipment, the two cots, the sheep, the barn-”

“Sheep?” Harry cut her off. She led them to the stone wall at the far edge of the yard and Harry could see down the side of the hill the house sat on. There were two huge paddocks done around with stone walls. Just to the north there were a couple large outbuildings hidden from the house by some trees, including a barn. The sheep lazily sat in the grass watching and waiting for a new owner. Another shaggy dog sat with them, but this one was white. 

Harry listened as she told him more details about the house and land. The brown dog sat with its weight against his legs and panted as he scratched her ears. The hill below him was like a private paradise. There were no houses, no traffic, no pedestrians in sight. He took a deep breath and tasted only the cold wet clean air. Turning he stared at the back of the house. He saw a man walking up the drive and assumed it was the listing agent. 

“What are you asking?” Harry interrupted her explanation about a tractor. She told him a figure that seemed reasonable and he considered it. The listing agent called out and she went to waive him over. 

“I’ll give you five percent over, cash, if you send him away.” Harry pointed to the agent. Draco let out a choked noise behind him. 

“Ten.” 

“Seven.” Harry countered back and she shook his hand. 

“Sorry, I’m no longer in need of your services!” She yelled at the agent before turning back to Harry. “Serves them right for being this late anyways.” 

They walked back to the house and made arrangements to meet tomorrow to hash out the paperwork. 

“Why the rush?” Draco broke his silence as they discussed details.

“It’s my late uncle’s house. The less time I have to spend commuting out here from Slough the better.” 

She finished reviewing details with Harry while Draco went back to silently watching as he sat on an old metal chair. The brown dog laid her head gently across his lap and he softly stroked the top of her head with one finger. When they were finished she went inside to lock up and Harry took a seat next to Draco. 

“I bought a house.” Harry said with some realization. 

“I no longer think you’re crazy… I think you’re certifiably insane! I’m having you analyzed tomorrow. What on earth possessed you?” Draco let out his confused frustration at last. 

“I’ll show you why when we get home.” Harry laughed. The woman locked up the side door and told them they could stay outside as long as they shut the gate when they left. 

“Oh I almost forgot, what are the dog’s names?” Harry called as she climbed into her car. 

“No idea.” She shut the door and rolled down the drive. 

“She doesn’t even know the dog’s name. How can she know what the house is worth? What shape it’s in?!” Draco burst. 

“Well I will take care of the house inspection and you take care of the dog’s names, sound good?” Harry said, standing and popping his back. 

“Sound good? SOUND GOOD?!” Draco stood and threw his hands in the air as he stormed towards the road. “You sound ridiculous! Of all the idiotic things you’ve ever done this might take the trophy!”

“Oh no,” Harry caught up to Draco and held his hand. “The most idiotic thing I’ve ever done is wait this long to let my life start.”