Chapter 35
“Come on.” Harry called to the brown dog once they were alone. Upstairs Harry found towels in the hallways closet and turned on the bath. He would have to settle the utilities once the paperwork was finalized but surely he would be forgiven for a little water and electricity until then. He lifted the heavy dog into the bath with a grunt. She weighed more than he expected.
“Settle down.” He said, patting her head. Harry poured a cup of water over her fur and watched sickly gray runoff spill into the roll top tub. He couldn’t find any dog wash but there was a bar of soap in the shower that would have to do. He rubbed it all over her fur and started to rinse it off. All of the sudden she laid down and rolled in the tub.
“No!” Harry shouted as water splashed all over him and the floor. She rolled some more and then shook off aggressively. Soap still clung to her long shaggy fur and Harry realized he would never get it, and the dirt, out at this rate. He dragged her to the shower and took the head down off the hook.
“That's what I'm talking about!” The water jetted out and washed the dirt and soap away until the little streams under the dog ran clear. It took Every towel he could find but finally she was dry. Harry on the other hand was soaked through. He stripped off his clothes and hopped downstairs to the snug to light a fire. The dog stretched out next to him as Harry grabbed a blanket from over the back of the couch to wrap up in. The fire crackled and the dog snored but Harry thought he had never heard such a sweet quiet.
“Harry?!” The quiet was gone.
“In here.” He called. In a moment Draco appeared in the room and looked over him oddly.
“Are you naked?” He asked in disbelief.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I gave the dog a bath.” Harry pointed to the pile of still nap fur that was sleeping beside him.
“And that requires you to be naked?” Draco questioned.
“Did you need something?”
“Mother thought you might want dinner.” He threw a paper sack down to Harry. The rustle woke the dog who began sniffing at it eagerly. “I also brought you clothes, although now I’m reconsidering…”
“Draco.” Harry rolled his eyes and stuck out his hand but Draco didn’t budge. He sat down on the couch and set the bag next to him. Harry decided to ignore him and eat instead. The hot sandwich was delicious and he realized he hadn’t eaten at all today. He reached in and found another one, he held it out to Draco.
“I’ve eaten.” He dismissed the sandwich with a flick of his wrist. “Actually I had dinner with my mother, she told me all about this little scheme you’ve cooked up.”
“Scheme?” Harry laughed as he ate the other sandwich.
“To let her stay at Grimmauld.”
“Well that’s what she wants and I won't be there so…” Harry shrugged and gave the last bite to the dog.
“Don’t feed her, she’ll have bad manners.” Draco frowned.
“No worse than you.” Harry mumbled and scratched her ears.
“Me! You’re the one who made me roommates with my mother without asking!” Draco huffed.
“Well if you don’t like it you can always move.” Harry tried not to smile. “In fact I happen to know someone with an extra room right here-“
Draco threw the duffel of clothes at Harry hitting him in the shoulder.
“Hey!” Harry protested and the smile he was trying to hide broke through.
“This isn’t a joke!”
“Who said I was joking?”
“Don’t ask me to move in with you.” Draco looked exhausted. He slumped back into the couch and Harry got up to join him.
“You already live with me.” Harry pointed out.
“That’s not the same! When I came to stay with you at Grimmauld I never thought this would happen and if I move in here it wouldn't be like being a flat mate it would be... different.” Draco was irritated when he spoke. There was a long pause between them and Draco laid his head back on the couch and shut his eyes.
“Do I upset you?” Harry asked at last.
“I feel like I can’t breathe sometimes, you’re always doing things in such a way… it’s like I’m caught on a carnival ride.” Draco rolled his head over and looked at Harry.
“I’m sorry.” Harry felt guilty for overwhelming him.
“Don’t be. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced, I’m just not used to being so carefree. Everything, my whole life, always had consequences. Being with you… it feels so good I can only imagine what the consequences will be in return.”
“Well how about for now you can stay the night whenever and as often as you’d like, and then when nothing bad happens, we will revisit my earlier suggestion.”
“I think I can manage that.” Draco forced a tiny smile and Harry grabbed his hand. The dog wined and Harry got up to let her outside. The brown dog circled the yard outside, did her business, and then came back with a whistle.
“Did you ever decide on names?” Harry asked from the doorway as she trotted in and laid back in front of the fire.
“Well,” Draco pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. Harry could see a list of names with two columns, one for boys and one for girls.
“They’re both girls.” He said sitting back on the couch. Draco folded the paper in half so only the girl's names shown.
“I think Nannette for the sheep dog, and we can call her nanny.” Draco decided.
“And for this one?” Harry pointed down to the floor where the brown dog’s head laid on Draco’s shoe.
“Odette.” Draco crumpled up the list and threw it in the fire.
“Should I expect all the animals to be named after movies?” Harry laid his head on Draco’s shoulder.
“Just the chickens and dogs.” Draco had recovered to a better mood.
“I don’t have chickens.”
“Oh.” Draco seemed disappointed.
“Would you like chickens?”
“I don’t live here.” Draco shrugged.
“Right.” Harry rolled his eyes. “I’m going to bed, would you like to stay tonight?”
“I really don’t fancy sleeping on a dead man’s bed.” Draco said, standing.
“I didn’t think about that.” Harry wrinkled his nose.
“Of course not, you don’t think about anything.” Draco snorted.
“I think things about you…”
“What kind of things?”
“All kinds.” Harry smiled wickedly and winked. Draco leaned down and kissed him hard. Harry tried to get his arm around him and pull him down but the angle was all wrong.
“Nice try but I’m not staying.” Draco disappeared from the room.
“Worth a shot.” Harry sighed into the empty house and sat on the floor next to Odette. From the duffle he grabbed sweatpants and a hoodie. He shrugged them on and then laid down, wrapping himself in the blanket. He watched the firelight dance across the ceiling making the shadows between the dark beams wobble.
“Well Odie, I guess it’s just you and me.”