Chapter 37
A loud pounding on the door made Harry jump under the covers. It took a moment for him to realize where he was. Much to Harry’s disappointment the other half of the bed was still made. The pounding came again and Harry swung his feet to the floor. He heard a yelp and suddenly the floor moved out from under him. He hadn’t realized the dog was curled up by his side.
“Sorry Odie.” Harry said as he hurried down the stairs.
“Arthur?” Harry said quizzically as he stood in the open doorway.
“You’re still sleeping?” Arthur moved past him and into the room. “Harry you have to wake up early now, there are chores to do.”
“Arthur?” Harry repeated, shutting the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Harry.” Arthur grabbed the back of a dining chair with his hands and leaned against it. “Do you know the first thing about having a house in the country?”
“No.”
“Well.” He motioned to himself. “I’m here to save you.”
“Okay.” Harry laughed. He had learned to roll with the sometimes eccentric ways of the Weasley’s long ago.
“Get dressed. We have work to do!” Arthur clapped his hands together.
It was after lunch when Arthur finally left. He had charmed Harry’s well to never freeze or empty, taught him how to clean out the barn, when it was too cold for the sheep to stay out, and how to relight the water heater pilot. Harry felt better now that he knew how to keep the place running and, while it wasn’t the person he expected, he was happy not to have woken up alone.
“I’ll be back soon, Odie!” Harry called into the house as he shut the door. Outside he apparated back to Grimmauld. He knocked and Kreacher let him in with some confusion. At the kitchen table Narcissa and Draco were eating a late lunch.
“Oh Harry, you don’t need to knock dear.” Narcissa smiled.
“I just came to get some things, I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Not at all. Would you like some lunch?” She smiled.
“I’ve eaten, thank you.” Harry looked at Draco as he spoke. Draco looked back but said nothing, so Harry turned from the room and climbed the stairs. He grabbed a duffel bag and stuffed it with the rest of his clothes. In his office he shrunk his belongings and tucked them in a shoe box. He did the same for his work room.
I guess that’s it, He thought and looked around. Had he not filled the space more? Was it really that easy to leave? Harry realized that he’d not really ever moved in anywhere that wasn’t temporary. He walked downstairs and saw Draco putting his robes on to return to work.
“Hey.” Harry said quietly.
“Hello.” Draco smoothed his shirt.
“You didn’t come over last night.”
“You didn’t invite me.” Draco pouted.
“I want you to move in… I don’t think you need an invitation to come over.” Harry stepped closer and leaned his shoulder against the wall.
“So you expect me to just show up?”
“Yes,” Harry laughed. “every minute of every day, all the time.”
“Really?” Draco was attempting to be guarded about his excitement.
“Really.” Harry leaned in and kissed him. “So can I expect you tonight?”
“Alright.” Draco smiled and Harry felt all the air leave his body. If he ever saw Draco smile in such an unrestrained way he couldn’t remember. It made him look boyish and alive. Harry kissed him again and the smile grew wider when they parted.
“I’ll see you later.” Harry walked to the door. Outside he said a quiet goodbye to the street, the park, and the neighborhood. He stopped at the local shops to grab more groceries, toiletries, and other necessities. With everything squared away he headed back to the country.
Harry opened the back door and Odette jumped up happily and danced around him before bursting out into the yard. He watched her jump around the yard and bark at the birds. With a smile he walked to the back field to let the sheep into the barn for the night. Nanny rounded them up and pushed them into the barn.
Nanny was slow to warm to Harry but she seemed to trust him enough now the barn was clean and the managers were full of fresh hay. Nanny’s sheep were happy, so she was too. Harry closed up the barn and strolled back to the house. Odette rushed him and jumped on his legs.
“Yes, Yes, I’m still here. I’m not going anywhere.” Harry laughed and patted her belly like a drum. “I’m home.”
And he was home. He had never felt this way about a place before. The closest he ever came was Hogwarts but once he graduated and the next class moved in he realized that had only been for a moment. He walked into the house and started dinner. This place was forever.
Draco walked through the door just as the sun slipped from the sky. The winter days were growing shorter and shorter.
“How was your day?” Draco asked as they ate. For the first time Harry actually had something he felt was interesting to say. When they finished Harry went to the snug to light a fire.
“These are a little stale.” Draco said, eating the pastries as he came into the room.
“They would have been fresh if you were here yesterday.” Harry got the fire going and joined Draco on the couch.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come… I didn’t know if I should… or could.” Draco looked sad.
“I need you to make me a promise.” Harry was suddenly serious.
“What?” Draco was apprehensive.
“Never tell me the name of the guy who made you think that you were anything less than the best thing he ever had.”
“What?” Draco repeated, but this time he was just confused.
“I can tell… you just keep saying things… and I don’t even know what happened but I fucking hate that guy.” Harry’s hand balled into a fist on his knee. For a while the only sound was the crackling of the fire and the snoring of Odette on the floor.
“It makes you feel special at first… to be a part of a secret with someone. Then you realize that you’re just another play thing. Something they use for fun or to smash up when they’re angry.” Draco paused and Harry just stared. “But no one ever made me feel wanted in any kind of way before, even being wanted in the worst way for the most painful things made me feel like I couldn’t let it go.”
“Draco…” Harry started but Draco held up his hand. The subject was closed so Harry let it go and grabbed Draco’s hand from the air to hold it. They didn’t say anything else until Odette whined to be let out. Harry stood and opened the front door.
“You should really trim back those roses. They won’t grow very well next summer if you don’t.” Draco said, looking through the open door.
“How? Just chop off the branches?”
“Never mind, I'll do it this weekend.” Draco sighed. Harry liked the way the words sounded, how easy they were for Draco to say.
“Odie!” Harry called and whistled.
“Odette.” Draco corrected.
“It’s shorthand.” Harry smiled, shutting the door.
“I don’t like it.”
“Tough.” Harry leaned over the couch arm and kissed him. “Let’s go to bed.”
“It’s not very late.”
“So?”
“I’m not all that tired.” Draco complained.
“I didn’t say sleep.” Harry smiled and Draco let himself be pulled up from the couch.