Chapter 10
“Harry, I told you I’m fine.” Draco complained, following Harry through the woods. “You don’t have to babysit me, I know you were invited to dinner with everyone.”
Harry only laughed, shaking his head as he continued to pull Draco down the path.
“First of all, we were invited to dinner.” Harry clarified, shooting a knowing glance at Draco. “And second of all, I’m not babysitting you. I’m spending time with you.”
Harry caught Draco rolling his eyes as they rounded one more turn, finally making it to the clearing that Harry had spent all afternoon preparing for this very moment. White flower petals created a path to the clearing, and candles lit the way to the blanket that had been laid on the ground.
Draco gasped, his eyes widening as he looked between the beautiful setting before him and Harry.
“You did all of this?” He breathed. “How did you have the time to…?”
Harry cut him off with a quick kiss before pulling him down the flowered path and bringing him to the center, sitting on the blanket and patting the area beside him for Draco to sit as well. Draco did, still looking at Harry with wide eyes.
“You didn’t have to do all of this, Harry,” Draco murmured, squeezing Harry’s hand gently. “But thank you.”
Harry beamed at him, reaching for the basket in the middle of the blanket. He opened it, serving food to Draco before pouring him a glass of wine.
“You deserve nice things, Draco.” He told him quietly. “You deserve to be happy.”
Draco nodded once, still not entirely convinced. Still not entirely sure what it was that Harry saw in him. They ate together, smiling and talking as they did, enjoying the ambiance of the forest and the beautiful picnic that Harry had arranged.
When the basket had been repacked, and the dishes cleared away, Harry turned to Draco.
“Give me your hand.” He said quietly, holding out his own hand expectantly.
Draco hesitated for a moment before reluctantly setting his palm on Harry’s. Harry turned Draco’s arm, rolling up his sleeve to reveal the scarred Dark Mark, the fresher cuts around it turning into dark scabs.
“Harry, don’t.” Draco murmured, pulling his arm away, but Harry held firm to his hand.
“Please?” He asked, meeting Draco’s gaze.
Draco hesitated for a moment, analyzing Harry’s eyes, knowing that if he asked again, Harry would let go of his hand, knowing Harry would drop the issue. But something about his expression led Draco to push his arm back out, letting Harry examine the shameful mark on his pale skin.
Harry drew his wand from beside him, taking a deep breath as he pointed it at Draco’s arm. Draco sighed quietly, knowing that this wouldn’t work. Knowing that Harry would be just as disappointed when it failed.
Harry began the spell, whispering it over and over as he made slow, deliberate motions with his wand. Draco didn’t pay attention at first, but when a buzzing feeling erupted under his skin, he turned his eyes to his arm.
Draco’s jaw dropped open as he watched the ink prickle at the surface of his skin, and subsequently fade away, inch by inch under Harry’s wand. He looked at Harry incredulously, but Harry didn’t return his gaze, his brow furrowed in concentration as he continued the hushed spellcasting. Draco watched as the Dark Mark, at last, faded into nothing, the scars and cuts that covered it fading as well.
Harry at last set his wand to the side, looking at Draco with a tired smile, sweat beading on his brow from the exertion of the spell, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
“Now you don’t have to worry about that anymore.” Harry breathed, his hand still holding Draco’s, his thumb tracing soft circles on his palm.
Draco didn’t have words, didn’t know what words would mean enough. He lunged forward, tackling Harry to the ground as his body crushed against Harry’s. His mouth met Harry’s as Harry began to laugh, the kiss cutting him off as Draco wove his fingers through Harry’s soft brown hair.
Harry’s hands fell around Draco’s waist, pulling him closer by his hips. Draco’s blood boiled at Harry’s touch, and he slipped his tongue past Harry’s lips as he let out a sigh of pleasure. The kiss went from a want to a need, the intensity rising quickly as Draco released years of regret, heartache, and pain. The need to show Harry just how much he loved him, just how much he needed him, burning through every inch of Draco's body.
Draco’s sudden arousal rubbed against Harry’s as he shifted his hips, and both boys groaned with pleasure. Harry moved one of his hands from Draco’s hip to his length, palming it up and down slowly.
Draco could hardly breathe at the touch. He bit Harry’s neck, swiping his tongue over the bite and relishing in the sound that escaped Harry’s lips at the sensation. He hardly realized Harry had undone the button of his trousers before his member was being stroked by Harry’s strong hand.
“Don’t stop.” Draco breathed, rocking his hips in time with Harry’s hand.
Harry chuckled lowly, his teeth biting Draco’s lower lip gently before his tongue traced along the curve of his mouth.
“Wouldn’t dare.” He responded breathlessly.
Draco’s hand slid into Harry’s trousers a moment later, eliciting a moan from the brown-haired boy beneath him. Draco smiled at the sound, slowly moving his hand up and down, watching Harry writhe at the sensation.
Their speeds quickened as they continued to pump each other, faster and faster, their breath catching in their throats as the sounds of pleasure filled the small clearing.
“Harry I’m going to—” Draco began.
“Me too.” Harry cut him off, the words hardly more than a jagged breath.
Draco exploded into his release a moment later, the sight of it dripping down Harry’s hand causing Harry to explode seconds after that.
“You are… amazing.” Harry breathed, pulling Draco down onto his chest and holding him tightly as they each fought for breath.
“You are.” Draco replied. “I will never be able to thank you enough for what you did for me.”
Harry moved to pull Draco’s arm free, tracing his finger over the newly healed, clear skin.
“You don’t owe me a thing, Draco.” Harry whispered, kissing his temple. “You don’t owe anyone.”
Draco nodded once, nuzzling his face into the crook of Harry’s neck.
And for once, he might’ve believed him.