sesheta66: (Highlands Sesheta)
[personal profile] sesheta66
Title: A Cultural Experience
Author: [livejournal.com profile] sesheta_66
Rating: G
Word Count: 500
Challenges: [livejournal.com profile] dracoharry100's prompt of "bath." Also fits [livejournal.com profile] enchanted_jae's monthly prompt, "What did you think it was?" and my GJ 100_prompts table 012 - "History."
Summary: Harry decides that Draco needs to see a bit more of Muggle England.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.



"Why are we here?" Draco whined.

"We are here for a cultural experience," Harry explained.

Laughter could be heard for miles in response to that comment. "Really, Potter," Draco managed to sputter between guffaws. "That was very funny."

Harry scowled at his boyfriend.

"I mean who would have thought that you would be introducing me to some culture?"

"Hahaha, very funny. C'mon, this place is really beautiful, and it has a long history."

"What's it called again?" Harry scowled again. "Sorry, I just found it so funny that you could expose me to culture that I forgot."

"We're in Bath."

"Bath? Why would someone name a city that?"

Harry huffed in irritation. "It was, and still is, known for its hot springs, and the Romans built temples and bathing areas around them. The engineering and architectural works are astounding."

"Well, let's get on with it then," Draco said, sounding rather bored.

They spent the day wandering about town, and even Draco couldn't hold back. "Everything here looks so orderly ... and uniform. It really is quite spectacular."

Harry grinned, and explained how one architect and his son planned out the city to be precisely that. "Not so bad for Muggles."

"His most spectacular work is the Bath Circus," Harry explained, and the two of them spent a little time walking around the architectural dream. "It's completely circular, and some suggest the design may even be in homage to Stonehenge."

"Well, there you have it," stated Draco, sounding smug. "Everyone knows Stonehenge was built by wizards centuries ago. This is a mere imitation." His superior swagger returned at that point.

"Nobody knows anything of the sort, Draco."

"Well, it should be obvious. How else could it have been built?"

Harry merely shook his head and dragged Draco towards the Roman Baths.

"What is that pool of green sludge?"



"That's the Great Bath." Harry looked at Draco's horrified face. "What did you think it was?"

"People surely don't bathe in that!" Draco exclaimed with disgust.

"Not any more. The pipes are lead, and the water in here travels through those pipes, so it's unsafe. And there are lots of diseases that could be caught from it, especially if you accidentally swallow it."

"Disgusting!" Draco shuddered. He looked at Harry with confusion. "I thought you said it was still in use."

"The spa taps into the hot springs using modern technology for safety."

They spent the rest of the afternoon touring the Roman Baths, and despite the colour of the water, Draco had come around to appreciate how old it was and the fact that a lot of the pipes were still in working order.

"So ... how did you like this cultural experience?" Harry asked at the end of the day.

"Well, Potter, you surprised me. I'll admit to the marvel of engineering produced by the Romans in constructing this. But still ..."

Harry rolled his eyes. "What?"

"I would much rather go home and have a soak in our own bath."

A/N: Below is an aerial photograph of the Bath Circus. It and the picture above of the Great Bath are courtesy of www.bath360.co.uk [because their pics are better than mine] if anyone is interested.



.

Date: 2007-11-11 08:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] inamac.livejournal.com
Aww. I'm with Draco in this. He's lucky Harry didn't take him to the Pump Rooms to taste the stuff - though the spa water is warm, it tastes foul.

OTOH, Draco and Harry in a bath. Yeah. I can relate to that...

Date: 2007-11-11 08:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sesheta-66.livejournal.com
Heh. Yeah ... I took a pass on tasting it when we went through.

As for a Harry/Draco bath? Now that's yummy.

Date: 2007-11-11 11:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] piratesmile331.livejournal.com
Why would anyone even consider tasting the spa water?

Date: 2007-11-12 12:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sesheta-66.livejournal.com
They have a display outside the pump room, with glasses of the spring water for you to taste-test (which, as an aside, you actually have to pay for).

Yeah ... I took a pass. And it sounds like I made the right choice.

Date: 2007-11-12 01:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] piratesmile331.livejournal.com
Is it supposed to be good for you?

Date: 2007-11-12 01:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sesheta-66.livejournal.com
*giggles* - love Bones in your icon!

Who knows? I probably should, but don't. All I know is that it was warm, and that's enough to not want to taste it. Then it's supposedly a bit salty (gross). Then I'm not so comfortable with just how well-filtered it might be. I'll stick to ridiculously chlorinated water from the tap, thanks.

Date: 2007-11-12 12:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kaykayen.livejournal.com
I'm with Draco. No bathing in green sludge!

Draco's so funny trying to make sure the wizarding world gets credit for anything remotely spectacular!

Date: 2007-11-12 01:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sesheta-66.livejournal.com
Yeah, my reaction was pretty much the same when I arrived ... but after wandering around the Roman baths and marvelling at the technology, I was definitely impressed. Not enough to ever go IN the water, though. Ew!

And yeah ... of course Draco says it was wizards. He will always be a pureblood. *nods*

Date: 2007-11-12 03:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thrnbrooke.livejournal.com
Oh tooo wonderful!

Date: 2007-11-12 03:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sesheta-66.livejournal.com
Thank you, hon.

Date: 2007-11-13 05:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] enchanted-jae.livejournal.com
This is awesome on three levels:

1. Great story! I loved Draco in this. Heh.

2. Thanks for entering the JMDC!

3. I just got done reading a book, in which a couple chapters took place in Bath, and now I can "see" it in my mind. Thanks!

Date: 2007-11-13 06:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sesheta-66.livejournal.com
So glad you enjoyed it, and that you now have a picture in your mind. It is actually quite breathtaking. If you go to the website, you can see even more (a 360 degree look at the Bath Circus, the Royal Crescent ... the bathstone on the buildings really looks gorgeous).

Snarky!Draco is ♥.

Date: 2007-11-19 04:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] witchdragon.livejournal.com
Very fun- now I want to visit too!

Date: 2007-11-19 06:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sesheta-66.livejournal.com
It really is quite beautiful.

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