Chapter 17
Draco’s nose was turning red from the cold, a sure sign that his warming charm was about the fizzle out. The racers were long gone, the spectators were warming up inside the clubhouse and Draco was sulking on the balcony that overlooked the course.
Pansy had tried to convince Draco to go inside but Draco had just shaken his head, returning her rueful smile. It was the first time they’d both missed the Boxing Day Broom Races, a sprained ankle forcing Pansy to bow out and leaving Draco to pair up with Harry.
Harry. He loved the races almost as much as Pansy did. Pairing up with Chang for the last four years, their team had competed with Draco and Pansy for the cup, alternating second and first place.
Racing with Harry, rather against him, was going to be odd enough and Draco really would have appreciated a little more warning than a one-line note on the day of the race.
“Sorry Draco, something’s come up. Will explain later.”
Harry’s use of a code name, signing the note “Harry X” rather than “Harry Potter”, was especially mystifying. With a huff of frustration, Draco finally did what he’d been wanting to do for the last hour and Apparated to Grimmauld Place.
***
Draco was having fairly certain that he was having a minor medical incident. Evidently Harry thought so too as he was gazing at Draco in alarm while simultaneously trying to hold the door open for Draco to come in and contain an armful of squirming…
“Are those cruppies?” Draco’s voice sounded about four decibels lower than normal and he swayed slightly, clutching at the door frame as one of the baby crups reached up and… and… licked Harry’s nose. Oh. This was just.
“Yeah Hagrid dumped them on me this morning, said something about coming back in a few hours and, ahh-” Harry interrupted himself to capture one of the squirming crups and kicked the door shut behind Draco.
Because Draco was somehow inside Harry’s house now, with a million plump crup babies falling over his feet.
Opening his mouth to say… something… Draco promptly shut it again when Harry crouched down to pet the cruppies. He was still talking, apologising again for missing the race, for making Draco miss the race, but Draco just…
“Draco? You alright? Can I get you a tea or something?” Harry stood, holding one of the smaller crups close to his chest as he smiled at Draco. The crup had a tiny green bowtie, the same colour as Harry’s eyes and Draco was… Draco was… Draco was in so much trouble.