Chapter Text
“Looks quite like Hogwarts, doesn’t it?”
Harry shrugs, looking around at the now familiar Oxford campus.
“I suppose so. I hadn’t really thought about it. Maybe all castles from that time just sort of look alike.”
Ron hums, pushing his hands into his pockets.
“I think if Hermione had gone here, we’d never see her again.” He says slowly. “As is, we barely see Lavender.”
“Lav is getting two degrees in five years, she’s very busy.” Harry offers. “And she still comes to see Draco fairly often.”
“A friendship I never could have predicted in a million years. I forget sometimes that I’m her ex.”
“Holy shit, you two used to go out.” Harry laughs, bumping into Ron. Ron smiles down at the ground, shaking his head.
“And Draco’s almost done here.” He says. “Little swot.”
“He loves it.” Harry says fondly. “Though he’s constantly lamenting how difficult it is to keep up with homework and studying when he doesn’t have me or Hermione to one-up.”
“I need to see more of you. I feel like we haven’t gotten together for fun in ages.”
“We haven’t.” Harry shrugs. “We’re all busy.”
“Still.”
“Yeah.”
They reach the campus coffee shop, immediately spotting Parvati reading inside. She looks up when they sit across from her.
“Hi boys!” She says brightly, sticking a bookmark in. “Lav’s class lets out in ten minutes. How are you?”
“Tired.” Harry says. “What are you reading?”
“Kafka. It’s so depressing, but I can’t put it down.”
“Muggle author?” Ron asks.
“Yeah, pretty well-known. I have a theory he was a wizard who didn’t know about magic. His stories are bleak, but there are things here and there that make me think he performed accidental magic without realising it.”
“That happens?” Harry asks. “Wizards aren’t all told they’re magic at 11?”
“He wasn’t British. I’m not sure what the policies were when he was 11.” Parvati shrugs. “Shame, really. He seemed to be very unhappy. Though frankly, I do think Draco would find himself to be quite a fitting protagonist for one of these stories.”
“Probably.” Ron says, grinning. “Where is he?”
“He told me this morning that he had some meeting with a professor. I’m pretty sure it was a business professor.”
“Business?” Ron asks. “He’s not studying business.”
“No, he’s not. I’m sure he’ll tell me what it’s about later.”
“So much mystery. You know what Lavender’s announcement is, don’t you?” Ron asks Parvati.
“Oh of course. And it’s good.” Parvati says with a broad smile. “You’ll be floored.”
Huffing, Ron settles in to wait for Draco and Lavender to join them.
“How’s Hermione?”
“Advocating for specialised school counsellors and planning her next campaign.” Ron says. “She’s doing really well in the polls already. She’s a shoo-in. If she invites you to her lecture at the Society, you have to accept, by the way.”
Harry and Parvati both groan. Hermione’s lectures are excellent, but famously long and wordy. But before they can protest, Padma appears in the Apparition point outside.
“Oh, I didn’t know Padma was coming. Must be a big announcement.”
“It is.” Parvati beams, getting up to greet and hug her sister.
“They couldn’t be pregnant, could they?” Ron whispers to Harry. “Lesbians sometimes get pregnant.”
“I doubt it. I think they’d tell Padma before us if that were the case.”
“Lavender really likes Draco, though. But then, why would me and ‘Mione be…” Ron trails off as the girls return to the table, chatting about a new book Padma is returning to Parvati.
“Do you know it, Harry?” Padma asks. “ Rose in Bloom ? Draco recommended it.”
“I hardly know a fraction of the stories Draco’s read. What’s it about? He never tells me the title of what he’s talking about.”
“It’s a sequel. It’s about a girl growing into a woman.” Parvati says. Padma grabs her arm.
“I couldn’t fucking believe about Charlie!”
“I know!”
Ron and Harry listen curiously as the girls explain parts of the book out of order, and Harry gets the impression that incest was just a fact of life at the time that no one was really concerned about.
“I can see why Draco wouldn’t have known it’s a muggle story when he first read it.” Harry says. “Lots of pureblood cousin-marriage.”
“Oh, it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds.” Padma assures him, but considering she’s a pureblood herself, Harry’s not sure they have the same scale of ‘not nearly as bad’ when it comes to marrying cousins.
Lavender and Draco finally arrive arm-in-arm, and Lavender bends to kiss Parvati’s cheek.
“Ready to go? I’m dying of curiosity.” Draco says excitedly.
The six of them walk to the pub rather than Apparate because it’s a nice day out, and Hermione won’t get there for a bit anyway.
Draco wraps an arm around Harry’s waist, keeping him close at the back of the group.
“How did your thing go?”
“It was brilliant. I’ve got to meet with Remus again, but the shop is a go. I think between Remus, me, and the twins, we’ll have a good shot at success.”
“The- what shop?”
“Oh!” Draco smacks Harry’s shoulder. “I didn’t tell you! I got the idea in class yesterday. A magical items repair shop.”
Harry barely considers it for a second before nodding.
“That’s perfect for you. You’ll be great.”
“I know, I’m really good at it, and if I need help, I have loads of people I can talk to. I wrote a letter to the twins in class, but I think it’s still in my bag. Remind me to send it when we get home.”
“Sure, bun.” Harry says, and kisses the top of Draco’s head. “You’re brilliant.”
“You flatter me.” Draco teases, offering his cheek for Harry to kiss as well. “I love you.”
“I love you.”
Draco hums as they walk until he hears Padma say something about whatever she’s up to these days, and catches up to talk over Parvati’s shoulder about it.
At the pub, they snag a booth just before Hermione arrives. She slides in next to Ron, out of breath and talking so fast, Harry finds himself agreeing to something about her campaign without really knowing what he’s signed up for. Ron shrugs, grinning.
“Lavender! You have news for us!” Hermione finally says, settling in at last.
“I do!” Lavender says excitedly, clasping her hands together. Parvati sets hers on top, beaming proudly. “My school advisor told me yesterday, and I just couldn’t wait for it to be official. I’ve been nominated for an honorary doctorate!”
“What!” Hermione shrieks.
“Holy shit!” Draco cries, launching himself at her for a hug. “Lavender!”
“Oh merlin, that’s such an honour!” Hermione says, wiping her eyes.
General congratulations continue as Lavender explains how she’d submitted her research for committee review and gotten a positive response on her work.
Ron orders shots for everyone, Draco and Lavender are both crying happy tears, and Hermione looks like she’d been hit with a particularly strong stunner until Ron nudges her.
They stay till closing, celebrating Lavender, her work, and surprisingly, Harry for inventing the spell to begin with.
“I really didn’t mean to.” Harry says sheepishly. “I had no idea what I was doing.”
“But you did it, and it’s led to so much good.” Lavender says warmly, squeezing his hand. “I’ve given you credit, by the way! You’re listed as the spell creator in my thesis.”
“I- I didn’t create the spell. Snape did.”
“Well, he’s dead, so no harm.” Ron says brightly. “He never did much for you anyway.”
“ Ron .” Hermione says reproachfully, but Ron shrugs, still grinning.
“At any rate, Snape’s spell was just to view auras, nothing more.” Draco points out. “So maybe he named it, but he didn’t use it for anything but identifying your dad and his friends.”
“That’s so unbelievably petty.” Padma says.
“Yeah, did you ever meet Snape?” Ron asks.
“Harry, you have to tell him.” Draco says. “Please find him and tell him about it. I wish I could see his face.”
Harry laughs, leaning back and wrapping his arm around Draco.
“I think I will.”
The staff kick them out to lock up, and Harry and Draco find themselves trailing along at the back of the group. It’s then that Harry sees Hermione pull from Ron’s grasp to hang back with Lavender. Parvati and Padma speed up to walk with Ron in the front.
“You’ve done something so fantastic.” Hermione says quietly. “Really brilliant work.”
Harry activates Ostendoaura with a thought. Hermione’s aura has a deep wrinkle in it, shifting as she waits for Lav to respond.
“I’d love for you to read it.” Lavender says warmly. “I’m sure you’ll think of something else I could include.”
“Um.” Hermione pushes her hair behind one ear, glancing up at Lav. “I really am proud of you.”
“You’re too sweet.” Lavender says, wrapping her arm around Hermione’s shoulders for a walking side-hug.
The wrinkle lightens, then returns. Hermione wraps her arm around Lavender’s waist.
“I’m really not. I think I could learn a thing or two from you.”
Lavender laughs, shaking her head modestly. Hermione's aura is at peace once more. Or at least, as peaceful as Hermione’s aura ever is.
Draco squeezes Harry’s hand, smiling at Hermione’s words.
“I think we should leave a moustache.” Draco says with a smirk as he rubs shaving lotion between his hands.
“A pencil moustache? Like Remus had when we were in school?” Harry asks, tilting his chin for Draco to lather him up.
“Oh yes, you’d look so distinguished.” Draco laughs. “Molly would have a fit.”
“I actually think she’d like it.”
“In theory, but not on you.”
It had taken some time before Harry would allow Draco to shave his face with a straight razor, considering Draco barely has facial hair as is, well into his twenties. But it is nice, having Draco so carefully shave Harry’s face.
Draco hums to himself as he works, tipping Harry’s jaw this way and that. Harry likes watching the look of concentration in his eyes, which makes Draco blush anytime he catches Harry at it.
“Stop looking at me, you’re making me nervous.”
“You’re cute.” Harry says, smiling wide enough that Draco has to stop until he can get it under control.
“Goatee.” Draco suggests. Harry snorts.
“Are you trying to get me disowned from the Weasley clan? Molly would hate it.”
“Molly doesn’t dictate what you do with your face.” Draco reminds him. “And if she tries to, you can tell her to very respectfully fuck off.”
“That’ll go over well.” Harry grins.
He caves to Draco’s whims, leaving him with a thin moustache that very much doesn’t suit him. Draco can’t stop laughing anytime he looks at Harry’s face, so Harry pushes him into a wall and snogs him about it.
By the time they’re apparating to the Burrow, Draco is thoroughly sated, and Harry feels much less stupid about his moustache.
It’s their first time returning to the Burrow for a fancy dinner in some time, less by choice and more because everything has been nutty since Draco graduated school and opened the shop.
It’s Percy who answers the door, shaking each of their hands.
“Hi Perce.” Harry says, thumping him on the back. Percy coughs lightly, greeting Draco by his full name.
“Harry?”
Molly’s disembodied voice comes from the kitchen, so Harry follows the sound. She does a double take when she sees him, putting a lid on the frying pan to reassess him. Her aura quickly wrinkles before smoothing out to how it was before.
“Happy birthday, Harry.” She says warmly, cupping both his cheeks in herb-scented hands. Harry grins.
“Like my moustache?”
“It’s horrid, but I love you anyway.”
Molly has to pull Harry’s head lower to kiss his forehead, and he hugs her until something starts boiling over. Draco lightly touches Harry’s elbow as Percy is finishing a long-winded sentence about new tax policies.
“Fleur is talking to Lavender, and I have to be part of that conversation. Hi Molly.”
“Draco, love, good to see you.” Molly hurries over to give Draco a hug and kiss on the cheek before he goes to his fellow blondes.
“Anything I can help with?”
“On your birthday?” Molly asks reproachfully, pushing a small tray of cheeses into his hands. “Have some cheese, and go be with your friends.”
She puts a little pot of jam in the middle of the cheeses and sends him outside to join the party. Harry pops a slice in his mouth as he leaves the house to find the party.
As soon as he’s opened the door, Ginny squawks, and he looks at her, alarmed.
“Harry, what the fuck is on your upper lip?” She asks, lobbing a fresh beer can at him. He wrinkles his nose as he sees it’s an IPA.
“It’s a-”
“Absolutely not, Harry. Not today. Draco, you let him leave the house like this?”
“Oh, I shaved it like that.” Draco says proudly, sauntering up to Harry’s side. “But I brought the razor and such to fix it, I just wanted a laugh.”
“Berk.” Harry says into his hair, running his fingers down Draco’s back to twist into his aura. Draco gasps, clutching Harry’s arm for support. “There’s more where that came from, babybun.”
Draco’s eyes lift to meet Harry’s, and they’re so full of shit that Harry gives his aura another tug. They fall shut, and Harry kisses the top of his head.
“You were saying?”
“I thought I was supposed to get less randy with age.” Draco mutters. Harry laughs, passing Draco the tray of cheeses and popping the tab on the beer can. Draco feeds Harry another slice of the cheese he’d tried earlier, and Harry nips Draco’s fingertips before he can pull away.
“Harry!”
Draco jumps as Ron appears in front of them, already sunburned from setting things up.
“Hi Ron,” Harry releases Draco to hug his best friend, and Ron slaps him on the back.
“Finally joining the 25 gang, huh? Took you long enough.” Ron says, squeezing Harry’s arm.
“I’ll try harder next year.” Harry promises.
“Oh, I can take that.” Ron says, holding his hand out for the cheeses. Draco takes a few more pieces before passing it over.
“Bug-me-not charm, Weasley.” Draco says sternly. “I’ll not have fly-ridden cheese at this, a most joyous occasion.”
“Sure, bunny.” Ron agrees, already drawing his wand as he heads toward a buffet table. “Hermione’s in the side yard.”
“Shall we say hi?” Draco says, offering Harry his arm.
Hermione is leaning against the house in the shade with Luna, frowning at whatever Luna’s currently trying to convince her of. She perks up when she sees Harry and Draco.
“Sorry Luna, let’s continue this later. Happy birthday, Harry!”
Luna and Hermione reach Harry at the same time to hug him, and he wraps his arms around them both.
“It’s a very good time for a birthday, Harry.” Luna says. “I was just telling Hermione. It’s mating season for Kent storks.”
“Oh, it’s- for what storks?”
“Kent storks, Harry. They migrate south to Kent for the winters, and they leave their eggs behind to hatch in the sand.”
“Like sea turtles?” Draco asks.
“Yes!” Luna pulls away, turning excitedly to Draco. “That’s where we get the myth of the sea turtle, actually, is because people used to think the Kent stork eggs were turtle eggs.”
“Which isn’t the case, because turtles don’t exist.” Hermione says slowly.
“Of course.”
Hermione looks at Harry pleadingly, but he can only laugh.
“It’s good to see you, Luna.”
Luna decides to stay in the shade of the side yard, but Hermione joins Harry and Draco in returning to the party. Several more people have arrived since they’d left. He spots Pansy’s newly shorn head straight away, and goes to say hi to her.
“Hey, Pansy, your hair looks-”
“Not the time, Potter!” Pansy says sharply, pulling Harry by his arm a few steps away from everyone. “It looks great, I know, I’m going to get tattoos too, but that’s not the point!”
“Uh-”
“I know there’s great potential for complex feelings post-trip, obviously, it’s noted in every single psychedelic book I’ve ever read, particularly when it’s done with close friends and-or in a safe and affectionate setting, but I’m really not sure what to make of it?”
“Of- of what?”
“Of Luna.” Pansy says, blinking blankly up at Harry. “Obviously.”
“Lun- what? What are you talking about? Why are you asking me? I’m terrible with this stuff.”
“Yes, exactly!” Pansy exclaims. “You’re just as stupid when it comes to feelings as I am, maybe more!”
“Happy birthday to me.” Harry says dryly. Pansy rolls her eyes dramatically.
“You know what I mean. How did you know you were into Draco?”
“I uh… I didn’t, for a long time. Um.” Harry scratches his head. “Do you want to fuck her?”
“I’m asexual.”
“Oh. Right. Well then…” Harry looks around for Draco, relieved to see him hurrying over, wide-eyed.
“But when did you figure it out, what did you-”
Pansy continues rambling on as Draco links their arms together to pull her toward where Bill is serving cocktails.
“Pans, you’re super into Luna, anyone who’s been in the room with both of you can see it. Stop being a coward and just talk to her. She loves girls.”
“That haircut weirdly suits her.”
Harry jumps when Dean Thomas appears at his side with a gift wrapped box and an old fashioned.
“I think it makes her look less intense, somehow.” Harry agrees. “Where’s Seamus?”
“I left him at the drink table. He’s very interested in Bill Weasley.”
“Well.” Harry shrugs. “Can you blame him?”
“Not at all.” Dean says with a grin, holding the box out to Harry. “Happy birthday.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to-”
“Don’t open it here.” Dean says, winking. Harry’s eyebrows lift.
“Is it-”
Dean leans in conspiratorially.
“Have you heard of anal hooks?” He says softly. Harry lets out a laugh.
“Just in passing. I’ll give it a shot, thanks, mate.”
“Happy 25.” Dean says, lifting his glass in salute.
Harry’s in the middle of a conversation with Mr Lovegood when his mobile rings. He excuses himself to a quieter part of the yard.
“Dudley?”
“Where the fuck is this house? I’ve circled the entire town three times.”
“Yeah, it’s uh-” Harry turns in a circle, wondering where Dudley might be coming from. “Uh… I think the turnoff road is called Cypress? Do you want me to come get you? Where are you?”
“I’m on a street called Eighth.”
Harry tries to remember any numbered streets in the area, but he’s rarely been in town, certainly not enough to know what the streets are called.
“Who is that?” Draco asks. “Dudley?”
“Yeah, he’s lost.”
“Is that Draco?”
“Yeah, can you just stay put and we’ll come get you?”
Draco lifts his wand and murmurs the spell, looking delighted when his Patronus appears. He never tires of being able to cast one.
“Oh, nevermind. Draco’s sending his Patronus. You can’t miss it. Just follow it back here.”
“Yeah, okay, how long until it gets here? I’m stopped in a red zone.”
“It’ll just be a moment.” Draco says, pulling Harry’s hand lower so he can hear Dudley too. “Don’t you have maps? Isn’t it dangerous to go driving around strange towns without knowing where you’re headed?”
“Well, I did have a map, but Harry forgot to write some of the street names down, so I’m mainly guessing.”
“Now that doesn’t sound like our Harry at all.”
“Okay, that’s enough of that.” Harry says, taking his hand back from Draco to move the mobile to his other ear, holding Draco to his side as Draco laughs at him.
“There’s something on my windshield.”
“What is it?”
“This must be Draco’s thing. It’s a bunny.”
“Yeah, that’s him.” Harry grins. “So just follow that, alright?”
“Sure, I’ll be there soon.”
Draco takes Harry’s beer for a sip, linking their arms together to return to the group of people clustered loosely around the yard.
“You can have that, I don’t like it.” Harry says. “Have you seen Nev yet?”
“I assume he’s waiting on Vince or Greg to be ready.” Draco says. “Greg takes a long time to get ready for things.”
“What does he do? He looks the same every time we see him.”
Draco shrugs broadly.
Tonks rushes over as soon as he sees Harry.
“Hey, I got that report you asked me for, happy birthday! It’ll be in your inbox Monday morning.”
“No shop talk at Harry’s party!” Ron says, passing by with a massive cauldron of cold pasta. “Not allowed!”
Tonks gives Harry a sheepish grin, hugs him, and follows Ron to the growing buffet tables.
By the time Dudley drives up, the party is in full swing. Harry laughs as Draco’s bunny Patronus hops up to him, bounds in circles around him, and stops for a pat on the head before vanishing.
“That really is just an extension of Draco, isn’t it.” Dudley says, pulling Harry in for a manly thump on the back.
"What is?" Parvati asks, arm linked together with Draco’s. “Happy birthday, Harry!”
“Ooh, look!” Draco says to her, drawing his wand to cast his Patronus again. “He’s a darling, don’t mind the fangs.”
“The what?” Dudley asks, jumping back as the silvery bunny hops up to him. Without warning, it unhinges its jaw like a snake, showing off sharp, frightening fangs glittering with spit.
“That’s amazing!” Parvati cheers. Dudley looks at Harry in alarm. The bunny shuts its mouth as if nothing odd had happened and lopes back to Draco to be picked up.
“As I said. I’m quite proud of him.” Draco says brightly, stroking the translucent glowing fur.
“That’s horrifying.” Dudley says flatly, and Draco thanks him with a sunny smile.
The sun sets on the evening’s merriment, the entire yard full of friends and family brought together to celebrate Harry not dying again lately.
During one of Luna’s incomprehensible party games, Harry finds himself randomly paired with Crabbe, who has really warmed up to him in the last few years.
“Potter.” He says gruffly, dipping his chin in greeting. “Happy… day.”
“Thanks!” Harry says, pleasantly surprised to be addressed at all. Crabbe is a man of few words.
By the time he’s able to sneak off, leaving Draco with the girls and a kiss on the nose, it’s well into the night.
He slips through the space between life and the afterdeath easily, and Mum and Dad are there waiting for him.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart.” Mum says warmly, pulling him in for a hug and kiss on the cheek. Dad puts his arms around them both.
“Twenty-five is a big one.” Dad says, squeezing Harry’s hand as they step back. “Fancy a trip to the sea? It’s on us.”
“Well, good,” Harry laughs. “I don’t have money in here.”
Dad takes Mum’s hand in his right, Harry’s in his left, and they drift upward, away from the party and the Burrow and the familiar landscape.
At the seaside, there’s a ferry for hire, and Dad passes over a Dracula bobblehead. The ferryman seems delighted by it, and it joins his hoard of oddities piled against the cabin windows.
It’s not the ferry, the one Death had spoken of, but the trip is accompanied by a guided tour of an old Elizabethan-era sunken ship. Since ghosts don’t need breath, they can stay underwater as long as they like. Harry thinks he should explore the possibilities further to see what sorts of horrors lie beneath the ocean. It’s not like anything down there could kill him…
Mum and Dad bring him back to the Burrow just after one in the morning, and he wishes them well before he returns to life, their love ringing in his ears. He walks through the chilled quiet of the garden with a smile on his face.
The lights inside are still on, and Harry hopes belatedly that they hadn’t been waiting up for him. He pauses just outside the door to look inside.
Draco is sitting sideways in the big armchair, his head on Ginny’s leg. Her hand is plunked casually over the top half of his face, shielding his eyes from the lights. Ron and Hermione are together on the sofa, which they’re sharing with Luna, Arthur and Percy, squished uncomfortably between everyone else. It’s more people than should fit on a three-seat sofa.
Molly is sandwiched between the twins sitting on the floor of all places, her head resting on George’s shoulder. She looks happy, relaxed, and comfortable.
Harry knocks lightly to announce himself, not waiting to be let inside. Draco sits up, clawing at the back of the armchair and Gin’s shoulder to pull himself up.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting on me.” Harry says to the room at large, going to Draco first to give him a kiss.
“We really weren’t,” Ron says through a yawn. “Didn’t realise how late it is, to be honest.”
“Harry, welcome home.” Molly says warmly.
“How was death?”
“It was really nice. We went deep-sea diving. I’ll show you later.” Harry promises. “What have you all been up to?”
“We did have a smoke toward the end of the party, but then everyone went home, and the buzz kind of wore off.” Ginny says. “Ooh! Harry! We got Mum to take a hit off Dad’s bong!”
“Not a euphemism.” Hermione says with a grin. Harry lets out a laugh.
“Sorry, Molly, you smoked weed? And no one thought ‘ hey, let’s prolong this precious moment until Harry gets back so he can enjoy it too.’”
“Oh, don’t make such a fuss.” Molly says sleepily, waving him off. “I’ve smoked far more than you ever will.”
“It was really fantastic.” George says.
“She was dancing on the tables, had to get her to sober up.” Fred adds, bumping his shoulder into her side.
“Sorry I missed it.” Harry grins, dropping to the floor in front of Draco, slapping the top of Ginny’s foot. She kicks him back. Draco drapes his arm over Harry’s shoulder to hold his hand.
“Hagrid wants you to write him more, by the way.” Draco tells him. Harry knows this, and makes a note to get back into the rhythm of their easy letters.
“Apparently, he and ol’ Pansy Parkinson are best pals these days.” Ron says. “He had nothing bad to say about her.”
“Of course not, she’s a delight, and a glowing beacon of cordiality.” Draco says, though he can’t even deliver it without ending on a snicker. Hermione laughs. “Okay, a feminist icon, at least. First Potions Mistress ever at Hogwarts.”
“An excellent feat, to be sure.” Hermione agrees, still giggling. “I can’t imagine anything other than Snape’s voice coming from her mouth.”
Draco sits up a little, just enough to affect Snape’s speech pattern with Pansy’s voice.
“None of that… fucking around……… Potter. Eighteen points from… Gryffindor.”
The twins and Molly can’t contain their snorting laughter, and Harry watches the three of them, so similar despite each of them pretending otherwise for so long.
He sets a personal goal to get Molly to smoke more weed this year.
Draco is already drinking his tea by the time Harry wakes up.
“It’s the first snow. Shall we frolic in it?” Draco asks without looking away from the window. Harry grunts, pulling the blankets up higher.
“Morning, bun.”
“You know, every time you say that, I think of morning buns, and then I get hungry.” Draco says, setting his tea aside to curl up with Harry again, bundled in the blankets. “Is that your plan, Potter? Make me hungry so I’ll bring us food in bed?”
“I think I’m looking at breakfast right now.” Harry says, hand sliding down Draco’s back to hitch his leg over Harry’s hip. Draco hums, wiggling his eyebrows.
“You flirt.”
“Mhm.” Harry growls. He nips Draco’s earlobe, and Draco’s tea-warmed hands find Harry’s chest. “I’m looking forward to tonight.”
“ Fucking hell, finally the day has come.” Draco moans, pressing forward into Harry. “You’ve kept me waiting far too long, Harry Potter.”
“I just love how desperate you get.” Harry says against Draco’s hair. “It’s so pathetic.”
“Don’t start now ! I have work!”
Harry laughs, rolling them so Draco is pinned to the bed beneath him. Draco’s eyes are fixed on him, big and hazy.
“You can come home early if you’re too edgy.” Harry offers, reaching between them to palm Draco’s erection. Draco immediately bucks into his hand with a cry.
“ Harry-”
“But you can’t touch yourself, okay bunny? Not at work, not at home, not anywhere else. No sneaking into coffee shop loos for a quick wank, unless you want another punishment like last time.”
“No, no sneaking into… into loos.” Draco pants out, eyes barely open now. Harry hasn’t let him come in weeks, and he can tell Draco is reaching his limit.
“Look at me, bun.”
Draco pulls his eyelids open with a fluttery battle. He won’t be at work for more than an hour, in this state, before Remus sends him home to avoid accidents. It’s why Harry only scheduled one appointment for the day.
Not that he’s told Draco, not yet.
“I’m going to dangle you from the ceiling, beat your arse until you’re crying, and ruin your sweet hole until all you can think about is coming.”
“Harry, you fucking arse-” Draco says, squeezing his eyes shut again. Harry laughs, sitting back on his heels and offering a hand for Draco to sit up. “Six?”
“Six o’clock, baby. Just ten more hours.”
Draco groans loudly, slumping against their headboard.
“You just love to torment me, don’t you.” He says accusingly, squirming uncomfortably as he resists touching his own cock. “You’re a sadist.”
“And you love it, masochist.” Harry says, rubbing his hands up and down Draco’s calves. “Tonight, you can have as many orgasms as you can physically manage.”
“Merlin’s tits, what I wouldn’t do for an orgasm right now.” Draco mutters, sliding off the bed. “You, sir, are missing out on such a good opportunity to have me at your mercy.”
He kisses Harry, then slinks off to the bathroom, pouting the whole time. Harry grins.
“I’m sure you’ll be just as horny tonight, princess.” He calls. He lounges back against the headboard, watching Draco through the bathroom doorway as he bends over the sink to wash his face and brush his teeth, his hard cock dangling dejectedly between his legs.
Harry briefly considers cancelling his morning appointment, just so he can follow Draco to work through the afterdeath and secretly tease him until Remus realises something’s up. There really is a lot of benefit to Draco’s one coworker being almost as deeply involved in kink as they are.
But alas, there’s an emotional child depending on Harry’s availability and reliable support, and cancellation is really not an option.
So, after finishing Draco’s leftover tea, Harry goes through his own morning routine, slapping Draco on the arse at any opportunity.
“Nine and a half hours.” Draco says to himself as he’s pulling on his cloak. “Nine and a half. Fucking hell, I almost miss the days I couldn’t stay hard when I was away from you, at least then, I had fewer embarrassing boners.”
“I’m very glad you’re at a point that you can get embarrassing boners anytime, and not just when you’re with me.” Harry says, holding Draco’s cheeks to kiss each part of his face - temples, cheekbones, jaw, chin, lips, and ending with a kiss on his pointy little nose, which wrinkles at the contact.
“You’re so eloquent, Harry.” Draco says teasingly, dodging when Harry reaches for his arse again. He laughs, blowing a kiss as he lifts his wand to Apparate. Harry’s left with an empty hallway and a grin on his face.
Once he’s at work, he’s glad he hadn’t cancelled. The darling nonverbal girl he’s been working with for months has had a breakthrough with her mother, having gone a week without any meltdowns, and using their refrigerator magnet system to indicate her needs and feelings. Harry is endlessly proud of her. Her cotton candy blue aura is glowing brightly from the moment she steps foot in the room. She gives him an enthusiastic high-five as they’re leaving.
Harry watches mother and daughter as they pass the big front window, holding hands and kicking any patches of snow in every direction. There’s a warm, motherly joy written in every tired line of the woman’s face, and young, vibrant excitement in her daughter.
Harry sits for a bit to organise his session notes, and to appreciate the pride sitting warm in his chest.
He checks his watch, surprised to find the hour long gone. He sorts his things, turns out the office lights, and bundles up to take the short walk home.
The wind is sharp on his face, but not as biting as it had been earlier, when snow was still falling. He stops for a gyro on his way; the hot tinfoil it’s wrapped in keeps his hands toasty as he walks.
Unsurprisingly, Draco is already home by the time Harry arrives. Harry can hear his footfalls upstairs running on the treadmill. He smiles, shutting the door softly.
He lets Draco tire himself out, busying himself by tidying the kitchen and front room from the week’s dishes. The running stops after Harry’s finished, followed by footsteps to the bedroom. Harry waits until the shower is running before kicking his shoes off to stalk silently upstairs.
There’s no steam in the bathroom when he arrives, and Draco is making grouchy little noises from behind the curtain as he washes up. Harry leans against the wall to listen to him for a bit before stepping up to open the curtain.
Draco shrieks, drops the soap, and hits his elbow on the shower wall.
“I wasn’t touching!”
“I know you weren’t, bunny.”
“Why aren’t you at work!” He demands, putting his trembly hands on his hips disapprovingly.
“I planned a short day.” Harry says. Draco squawks his betrayal, and Harry smiles. “Why are you upset? That means an early release for you.”
“I- really? We’re not waiting until six?” Draco asks breathlessly, like he can hardly believe it’s true. Harry nods, and Draco lets out a huge sigh, leaning back against the wall, eyes closed. “Thank fuck.”
“Remus sent you home?”
“Yeah.” Draco grumbles, bending to retrieve the soap and rinsing off. “I wasn’t really paying attention to whatever I was working on. I think it was a busted register, but I could be wrong. It’s all in pieces. And again, preoccupied.”
“Maybe playing on workdays isn’t the best-”
“No!” Draco protests, hand frozen over the faucet. “Don’t you dare limit me to weekends only, you know I’ll combust.”
“I just worry you’ll hex off your eyebrows again.”
“I’ll be more careful.” Draco says, softer. “Promise.”
He shuts off the shower, approaching Harry with his dripping wet hands moving distinctly waist-ward. Harry catches them with a knowing smile.
“Alright, you little menace, it’s a deal.”
Despite the water, Harry wraps his arms around Draco’s middle and lifts him from the shower to deposit him on the counter. Harry dries each limb carefully until Draco runs out of patience and hops down.
“That’s plenty dry, it’s not like I’ll be dressing.” He says petulantly, hanging up his towel with a flick and dragging Harry from the bathroom. “ Please?”
“Alright, bunny.” Harry smiles. “I’ll meet you down there.”
Draco bites his lip, bouncing on his toes until Harry lifts an eyebrow, and he hurries off to the playroom. Harry smirks in his wake, turning to the drawer where they keep their mild-to-moderate toys. He collects ropes, shears, knives, a cock ring, and a tube of lip balm, because Draco chews on them until they bleed unless he has something else in his mouth.
He doesn’t keep his footsteps quiet as he makes his way to Draco. Draco loves the anticipation almost as much as the release, no matter how much he complains about it.
As Harry’s obedient, if whiny, sub, Draco is kneeling on the floor below the main hook in the ceiling, wrists crossed at the small of his back. Harry sets down his collection of things, pleased when Draco manages to keep his eyes down instead of peeking. He steps up to Draco, running his hand through his hair. Draco’s head dips to follow the motion, and Harry smiles.
“Are you ready to start, sweet bun?”
“Yes, Harry.”
Nodding approvingly, Harry helps Draco up with a gentle hand on each elbow. He slides the cock ring down Draco’s shaft, and Draco lets out a relieved breath once it’s in place.
The rig is a simple one, but not one they’ve tried before. Draco’s eyes close as Harry guides his arms into position at his back, lashing them into place. He kisses Draco’s shoulder as he passes behind him to start on the harness. Draco’s chest is already flushed and heaving.
Harry lifts him slowly, in increments, as he finishes different parts of the tie. Draco is a dream, perfectly still in each position, quiet other than his faint whimpers anytime Harry lets the ropes brush his cock.
By the time Harry has him suspended, turning slowly, Draco is deep in bunnyspace, his cock dripping up his chest, face flushed from dangling upside-down. Harry crouches in front of him, cupping the back of his neck to keep him in place.
“Colour, princess?”
Draco doesn’t answer for a moment, but Harry’s used to waiting as Draco’s foggy brain processes the question.
“Green.” He breathes at last, and leans into Harry’s gentle touch to his cheek. “Green. Green, please.”
“Yes, bunny. I wish you could see how beautiful you look right now.”
And he is a sight to behold, suspended from his sharp hips and one knee, the other leg below him, ankle tied to the ropes on his forearms. It can’t be comfortable, but Draco is rarely more peaceful than when he’s thoroughly bound.
Harry’s fingers trail along Draco’s spine, from the back of his head to where his arms are tied. He hardly uses it anymore, but there, at the centre of Draco’s back, Harry fists his hand in the delicate material of Draco’s aura.
As much as he can, Draco jerks upward, hips pushing forward so he’s swinging on the hook. Harry keeps his hold, his hand moving with Draco’s body, not releasing Draco’s aura until another bead of precum slides from the tip of his cock toward his belly button. Harry dips his head to lick it up, stopping just short of Draco’s cock. Draco whines pitifully.
“Patience, bun.” Harry murmurs, trailing his fingers around Draco’s back, searching for another spot of dense magical energy to pull on.
When he does, Draco shouts, his thighs clenching and releasing as he tries to bring them together in vain. Harry finds sensitive spots at his inner thighs as well, and Draco twitches and jerks so perfectly at each touch. Harry palms himself as he watches the rapid rise and fall of Draco’s chest.
After some more teasing, and Draco’s cries have gotten increasingly desperate and pained, Harry adjusts the rigging to lift his head and shoulders higher, more level with the high points of his suspension. Draco’s face is quite red by now. Draco’s breathing evens out as Harry allows him a moment to recover.
“How are you, babybun? Still green?”
Draco hums a long note in reply. Harry pets his hair some more.
“I need at least a nod, okay bun?”
Again, Draco takes some time to realise he’s been asked a question, and he opens his pretty eyes. They find Harry and blink twice before his lips part.
“Green, Harry.” He breathes. Harry smiles, rewarding him with a kiss and a gentle pulse of magic to his aura at his lower back. Draco groans deeply.
“Good bun.” Harry praises, and Draco’s cock gives a valiant twitch. Harry laughs softly.
Harry takes one of his knives - Draco’s favourite - and disinfects it in Draco’s line of sight. He hums again, happier, approving. He still whines in protest when Harry starts wiping down his skin with alcohol. It’s too cold, Draco always says afterward, but it’s better than getting an infection, which Harry always reminds him of. Draco’s never had an infection in his life, so he doesn’t know what a pain they are to deal with.
At last, Harry starts in on small cuts, sending Draco right back down into the deepest parts of bunnyspace.
“You look so pretty, all tied up for me.” Harry tells him, even knowing his words will barely register to Draco in this state. “I love watching you when I tie you. You’re so completely perfect.”
Draco sighs contentedly as Harry slips the knife along his outer thigh, blood beading up at the spot. He moans when Harry cuts ever so slightly deeper, bending to lick up the blood, murmuring his protection spells against Draco’s skin.
The taste of blood is something Harry’s never quite gotten used to, but he wonders what it is about Draco that makes it so palatable. They’ve spoken about it, but whilst Draco says it’s because he eats so much sugar, Harry maintains that there’s no part of Draco he wouldn’t gladly put his mouth on.
Harry pulls Draco closer by his hip, knife clutched dangerously close to Draco’s cock, which drives him wild every time, even if he’s barely aware enough to realise it. Holding him tightly in place, Harry bites hard into the meat of Draco’s leg, just below the bleeding cuts. Draco moans loudly, muscles tensing and releasing as the cock ring prevents him from coming.
“You’re doing so well for me baby.” Harry whispers to his skin. “Just a bit longer, okay? Just until I’ve had my fill of you.”
“Green… green…” Draco whines out, squirming in the ropes. “Please.”
“So soon, bun. I’ll let you come.”
Draco’s fluttery eyelids close again, and Harry walks around to apply the same treatment to Draco’s other thigh. He bites this side more, licking the skin between the ropes, nipping at Draco’s hipbone. Draco makes such lovely noises the entire time, and Harry thinks he could continue to touch and slice and bite Draco all day.
But at last, he sets the knife gently on Draco’s stomach, the tip pointing up toward his face resting safely in the centre of his ribcage. Hands free, he takes the cock ring from Draco’s dripping prick. Draco lets out a guttural groan at the release of it, but his thighs clench hard as he tries to keep from coming.
“You’re so good for me, baby,” Harry says, probably for the hundredth time. He picks up the knife to set it and the cock ring aside. “Would you like to come?”
Despite bunnyspace, Draco lifts his head slightly to give Harry a bit of a crazed look. Harry laughs when he sees it.
“Okay, love. Okay.”
Moving between Draco’s legs, Harry sets both hands on Draco’s arse cheeks to hold him in place, then bends to get his mouth around the tip of Draco’s cock. As expected, Draco bucks immediately into the heat of Harry’s mouth.
Harry goes hard and fast, sucking and slurping at Draco’s cock, helping Draco’s thrusts upward. Draco is whimpering and crying, his muscles trembling as he builds up to his orgasm at last. It doesn’t take long.
His cum fills Harry’s mouth, spilling over his lips as he swallows what he can. Draco is still pushing weakly up, head thrown back so all the noises he’s making are strained from the angle of his throat. Harry doesn’t take his mouth away when the last of the shocks fade, and Draco quickly realises he’s not done yet.
Harry makes Draco come again in his mouth, gives him three dry orgasms from a combination of fingering and eating his arse, and at last, fucking finally, Harry twirls Draco around by the ropes to fuck deep into Draco’s throat. He pulls out to come over Draco’s face, chest and neck.
Panting, Harry checks in one final time, and Draco’s flushed cheeks, bright eyes, and dreamy smile answer before the words leave his mouth.
“Perfect, Harry.”
Harry bends to kiss him, tasting his own musk on Draco’s tongue, Draco tasting his cum in Harry’s mouth. Draco hums contentedly.
As he unties one limb at a time, he rubs the feeling back into them. Draco dangles patiently as Harry works, flexing his fingers or toes when Harry releases them.
Once he’s on the floor, he rolls lazily onto his side, humming again as Harry wraps up the ropes. Harry flicks the handful of loops lightly against Draco’s flank, and he gives a flirty little wiggle of his hips in response.
“Happy?”
“Deliriously.” Draco says, his voice scratchy and quiet. Harry lowers himself to the floor next to Draco, running his fingers over the bite marks on his hip. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Harry assures him, and Draco smiles sleepily. He tugs Harry closer, pressing his lips to Harry’s pulse point.
“I could just fall asleep here.”
“Don’t, you’ll wake up with a crick in your neck.” Harry says, bundling him closer. “Bad idea, falling asleep on the floor. It’s not even the plush carpet in here.”
“We should change it.” Draco says with a yawn. “I’m not falling asleep, I swear.”
“No, me neither.” Harry promises. He shuts his eyes, just for a moment…