“Welcome—”
“I am extremely sorry for coming home so late. I did not know it would take so long for the evening rounds to be done with,” Draco grumbled, dropping his bag on the floor next to the door, “Healers are crazy. Batshit crazy. I don’t understand how they even got licensed to treat people.”
He slumped on the elevated floor. He continued mumbling to himself as he fidgeted with his shoelaces. Harry felt sorry for the rage poured down upon the shoelaces, laces of his husband’s favorite pair of work shoes. He shook his head before dropping down in front of Draco and pulling the shoelace out of his rigid fingers.
“Bad day, huh!?”
“Bad? Worst! Absolute worst.” Draco snapped. “Remember I told you about that guy who came to us with his genitals all damaged? The one with no skin over it?” Draco asked but Harry realized it did not warrant an answer as Draco continued. “We have been treating him for Fournier’s gangrene for the past entire week and now… today… after all these days, with zero recovery, the head healer finally realized that it wasn’t even gangrene. I mean, what in Merlin’s shit were they doing the whole week? And to think that we are being trained to become healers by them.”
Draco subconsciously lifted his feet as Harry pulled on the heel of his shoes. He sighed heavily leaning into Harry’s chest, his eyes feeling like lead. “It sucks when you put all your efforts into something and it doesn’t seem to work out.”
“I am sorry it sucks.” Harry whispered as his fingers moved through the blond tendrils.
Draco sighed. “Does it get any better?” Harry let the silence fill the room. He wasn’t sure if Draco needed to hear an answer to it. “Harry, I am waiting for an answer.”
“Right, sorry!” Harry flushed, “I don’t know if it gets any better. But, I do know that someday it is all going to be worth it.”
“You think so?” Harry sighed as he read the desperation in Draco’s eyes. He knew that look. He knew it too well. He may not be so successful in his career yet, but he knows the desperation he has held within him throughout his life. The desperation of a peaceful but successful life. He understands the need for assurance. He received assurance from his family and friends and he will give the same assurance to his husband.
Harry snaked his arms around Draco, lifting the tired man with a practiced ease. Placing a chaste kiss on his forehead, Harry said, “I believe so, Dray.”
Draco smiled, letting his head rest on Harry’s shoulder, “I love you, Ha—” and he gasped, tiredness as if never existed. “Oh, my god!”
Draco’s eyes widened as he took in the decorated living hall and the kitchen. Red balloons were scattered around the hall, multicolored strips lining the walls and a breath-taking decorated table calling for a candlelight dinner.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Love!” Harry whispered as he loosened his grip on the struggling Draco. He watched in mirth as Draco gaped at him and then at their decorated home.
“I forgot it.” He mumbled. “I forgot it’s Valentine’s Day.”
Harry frowned. “That’s alright, Draco. You were caught up in work and tired. It happens.”
“You don’t understand, Harry,” Draco looked shocked and wounded at his husband. “We have been together for seven years and married for five. It’s supposed to be you who forgets the day every year and not the other way around. I am supposed to be the one reminding you of it.”
Harry had no clue what was going on. He was baffled. He seemed to be under a misconception that if he surprised his husband by actually remembering the day and actually putting in efforts to make it special for him, it would make Draco happy. But Harry was certain that wasn’t the case. Confused was definitely an understatement for what he felt at that moment.
“I am sorry.” Not to forget, being married to Draco Potter nee Malfoy definitely warranted frequent apologies, whether or not it was your fault. “I am confused here, darling. I thought you would like that I finally remembered this day.”
“Of course, I am happy, Harry. Don’t be crazy,” Draco scoffed, “I am ecstatic. But…”
“But?”
“But, you weren’t supposed to remember it.” Draco sounded defeated and that was something Harry disliked.
“I still don’t see the problem, Draco. Finally, after six years of sleeping on the couch on this day, I have finally warranted myself out of my misery and you think it isn’t supposed to be?” Harry sighed, rubbing his palms over his face. “It’s almost like you like torturing me.”
“Exactly!”
“WHAT?” Harry yelled, taken aback.
“No! I mean, not torture.. No!” Draco spluttered, “Definitely not torturing. But. God! Don’t you see it, Harry? Every year, you forget Valentine’s Day,” Draco started, desperately, “I plan a surprise, then you feel sorry for forgetting and then you pamper me. You love me all these other days but on this day, every year, you put in extra efforts. It’s like… it’s… I don’t know how to explain it but I enjoy it when you try to find different ways to woo me back. As if, I mattered the most to you.”
“You do matter the most to me.” Draco’s shoulder sagged as he heard Harry. He knew he was about to end up in tears. Of course he knows Harry loves him the most, but there was something so special about seeing his husband get all worked up, trying to take a step further in his desperate ways to please him. He felt cherished. He is not a very likable person. He is demanding and whiny and dramatic and just over the top and so very difficult to live with. But then, Harry just swoops in and does all these things to keep him in his life and please him and make him happy and… just like that, he unknowingly dusts off the insecurities that Draco keeps watering inside him. He reminds Draco that he is wanted. That someone needs him in their life.
Draco broke out of his thoughts as he heard Harry whisper something. A soft music started playing in the back. Another whisper and the lights dimmed and then another one lit up those scented candles. He looked at Harry to see him stretch his hand at him. “Dance with me?”
“You can’t dance for your life, Harry,” Draco chuckled with watery eyes.
“Let me surprise you.” Harry pulled Draco towards him and swayed slowly to the music. A lone tear left Draco’s eye as he rested his head on Harry’s shoulder and let him guide the dance. And once again, his husband did not need his words to ebb away his fears.
“I love you, Harry.” Draco mumbled, placing a kiss on Harry’s shoulder blade. “I love you so very much.”
“I love you too, Draco. More than I can ever show.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, love.”
“I expect you to surprise me this way every year. You forget and you’ll be sleeping on the couch in the hall and not the one in our room.” Draco threatened, making Harry chuckle.
“Then, I’ll try not to forget it.”
~The End~