sesheta66 | No Home for the Holidays

Title: No Home for the Holidays - part 9
Author:

sesheta_66
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~ 1950
Pairing/Characters: Harry/Draco
Summary: Draco receives some news.
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.

Challenges:

awdt's Valentine Quickies: #4 - "three's a crowd" and

slythindor100's Challenge: #98 - using this picture.

Click here to start at the beginning.

No Home for the Holidays - Part 9

Harry was of two minds as he stood looking out over the water. One selfish, the other less so.

The first missed Draco terribly. Harry desperately wanted to finish what they had started before Zabini had shown up. He kept replaying the kiss under the mistletoe and then their kisses, and the promise of so much more, on the Astronomy Tower.

The second didn't want to put Draco through the media circus Harry knew was inevitable if the two of them went public. And there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell that they could keep their relationship - because Harry absolutely wanted a relationship with Draco - confined to the halls of Hogwarts. The mistletoe incident could be explained away as a challenge, but even their new friendship would raise some eyebrows.

Harry saw how the newspapers had attacked the Malfoys after the war. Articles expressed outrage at the fate of both Narcissa and Draco. Everyone had expected them both to go to Azkaban with Lucius, at least for a while. But when Narcissa was released thanks to Harry's testimony, and Draco never got charged - again, thanks to Harry's urging - the public had had a field day. And then Narcissa was murdered.

Harry cursed himself as he realised he hadn't been in touch with Kingsley since he'd first asked about Narcissa's case. Putting his own situation with Draco to the back of his mind, Harry Flooed the Minister's office.

~*~*~

The air was bitter against his face, and Draco was having difficulty breathing properly as he flew around the Quidditch pitch. He hadn't seen Harry since Blaise had left, and he hoped the cold air would clear his head. For some stupid reason that he couldn't begin to fathom, he'd pushed Harry away, and he couldn’t stop the running commentary going on in his head.

Why would you do such a thing? You want him; he wants you; just go after him …

Nothing good could come of this. The two of you are barely friends …

You're only young once. Have some fun while you can …

The press will eat him alive, and his reputation will be dragged through the mud. The Saviour can't be with a former Death Eater. And a male one at that …

Draco's head still hurt from it all, and the cold air was only making things worse. But he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about Harry if he didn't focus his energy on something else. So he went to the storage shed and got out the practice snitch.

As Draco let the ball go, he pushed aside the hope that Harry would show up, and he settled in for a cold, solitary hunt.

~*~*~

"Ah, Harry, good to see you." Thankfully the Minister was in his office.

"Hello, Kingsley. Did you have a good Christmas?"

"Indeed, I did." He patted his belly for emphasis. "And you?"

"It was good, yes. I spent the day with the Weasleys."

"Ah, well … Molly's cooking can't be beat." He turned his head first to the left, then the right, as though looking for intruders, then whispered, "Just don't let my wife find out I said that."

Harry laughed. "No problem."

"So, to what do I owe this call? Should I presume it's about the Malfoy case?"

"Well … yes."

Kingsley smiled. "I thought as much. Listen, Harry, are you in contact with Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes. He's here at school with me."

"Over the holidays?" Kingsley looked surprised.

"He doesn't have much of a home to go to without his parents, so he stayed behind."

"Ah. I see." The Minister looked almost sorry about Draco's situation. "I was going to owl him later today."

"Oh?"

"The Aurors are questioning someone right now, and I was hoping to have him come to the Ministry tomorrow."

"What for? Did you arrest this person? Have you found her killer?"

Kingsley's deep laughter echoed through the Gryffindor common room. "Now, Harry, you started out so well. You even asked me about Christmas before you jumped in to ask about the case."

"But Kingsley --"

"Harry, this is information for Draco Malfoy, not you. I've said all I'm willing to say to you. But if you could just --"

"I'll let him know that an owl is coming. Thank you, Kingsley."

"You're welcome, Harry."

"And Kingsley?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry about last time."

The Minister of Magic grinned. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

Harry smiled. "Thanks."

Harry pulled his head out of the fire and stood up so fast he was dizzy from the movement. Undeterred, he went in search of Draco.

~*~*~

As he was reaching for the snitch for the third time, Draco noticed a shadow on the ground approaching the pitch.

"Shit!" he said as he watched the snitch get away. "This better be good," he called to whomever was there. Who was he kidding? He knew it was Harry. Who else would it be?

"I just spoke with the Minister," Harry called as soon as he got close enough to be heard. "He's got some news about your mother's case."

Snitch forgotten, Draco flew to the ground and landed beside Harry. "What news? What did he tell you?"

"Not much, actually." Harry looked annoyed by the fact.

"Well?" Draco asked impatiently.

"They're questioning someone, and Kingsley - the Minister - is going to write you tonight, asking for you to go to the Ministry tomorrow."

"That's it?"

"That's all he would tell me. Something about it being none of my business."

Draco couldn't help but laugh at that. "High time someone told you that, Boy Wonder!"

Harry frowned, but his twitching lip betrayed him. "Want company?"

"You just want to know what's going on," Draco teased.

"Yes. And no."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked.

"I want to know, but not just for the sake of knowing. Your mother saved my life. I want to see her killer brought to justice." He pinned Draco with a serious look, then went on. "Besides, I happen to care very much for someone who deserves to find out what happened to his mum."

Oh.

"Fine, then. Come along. I won't try to stop you." Draco tried to sound casual, but he was inwardly relieved that he would have Harry there with him.

Harry nodded, then turned and led the way back inside. Draco's hand lifted to reach for him, to … who knew what? He let his arm drop back down to his side. No sense starting down that road again. No matter what Harry had just said.

~*~*~

It was maddening being this close to Draco and not touching him. After what they'd … almost done. Harry still wasn't sure how to proceed. He knew what he wanted, but for once in his life he was going to think things through first. Consider what was best for Draco.

Harry knew this much: he wasn't going to let Draco down as a friend. He would see the case through and make sure Narcissa's killer was sent to Azkaban, like he deserved. It wouldn't bring back Draco's mother - Harry knew that all too well - but it was the best he could do. Then maybe he could think about … more.

As he neared the school, Harry stopped and turned around to tell Draco just that. Only to have Draco, who was looking down at the ground, walk right into him. Harry steadied Draco by grasping his arms. "Er … sorry about that."

Draco frowned. "Yes, well …"

It was too much. There was no surge of energy this time, no skin-on-skin contact after all, but there was an awareness Harry couldn't deny. A warmth within him as soon as their eyes met. And he couldn’t stop himself. As if drawn by an unseen force, Harry closed the gap between them and pressed his lips to Draco's.

Oh, yes. That was much better. His body felt alive, energized, and when Draco's tongue met his own, Harry was lost. He pulled Draco's body against his own, one hand pressed between Draco's shoulders, the other settling in the small of Draco's back. Harry felt Draco's hands move over his body, one grabbing Harry by the back of the neck, holding them together as if Harry would dare break the kiss, and the other reaching under Harry's robes and resting on Harry's hip. Harry's body ached to be even closer.

Draco, clearly not as affected by the kiss as Harry was, managed to pull back. "Stop," he panted. "Harry, stop … we … someone will see us."

Harry was relieved to hear Draco breathing heavily, even if Draco did have the sense to stop. To Harry's dismay, however, Draco's voice sounded even sexier than usual, and went straight to Harry's erection. Harry let out a groan, but maintained their distance.

As he fought to regain his composure, Harry realised that Draco hadn't said no, but rather someone will see us. He turned back towards the castle. Back where they could be alone.

~*~*~

Fuck, Draco thought. It was too much. There was no way his resolve was going to hold up. He couldn't believe he'd even managed to pull back from that last kiss. His entire body was trembling from the intensity of it. Just like last time. No. It was worse. Actually, it was better … only worse because he still had those voices warring in his head, telling him Harry deserved better than the media feeding frenzy that would surely result.

"Where to?" Harry asked over his shoulder.

"W-what?" Draco managed. How was it that Harry could reduce him to a babbling idiot with just a kiss? Only there was definitely nothing just about that kiss.

"Where should we go?" Harry asked again. "To be alone."

Oh shit. Draco didn't answer, but Harry led on anyway.

"Ah, Mr Malfoy. There you are." Professor McGonagall approached them as they were turning a corner. Which Draco knew would lead them to the dungeons … and his room. He was both frustrated and relieved by the interruption. He had to stifle his laughter as Harry growled beside him.

"Professor?" Draco replied.

"The Minister of Magic sent this along." She handed Draco a sealed roll of parchment. "He asked that I ensure you receive it directly. He didn't want to send it by regular owl post."

Draco's hand shook slightly as he took the parchment. "Thank you."

She smiled. "Shall we all head to dinner, then?"

Draco had been so preoccupied, he hadn't realised it was dinner time already. "If you don't mind," he said, holding up the parchment, "I think I'd rather read this first."

"Very well," McGonagall replied.

A look of concern passed over Harry's face. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Potter, I'm sure I can read a letter all by myself." Draco chose to ignore Harry's lost puppy look in favour of reading the letter in private. They could talk later.

"Come along, Potter," McGonagall said, ushering Harry away. "I'm sure Mr Malfoy, should he deem it appropriate, will enlighten you as to the letter's contents later on." She turned to Draco. "I'll ask the house elves to send a plate along to your common room."

"Thank you, Professor."

Draco sat in his common room for quite some time, simply holding the parchment, unopened. His hands were moist and his stomach was swirling with apprehension. He had no idea how long he'd sat like that, but it was only when his dinner tray arrived with a soft crack that Draco was once again alert.

He braced himself for whatever news the letter brought, then broke open the seal.

Part 10

Current Mood: accomplished

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

svgurl.livejournal.com

An update! How exciting! I'm really in love with this story. :D

I love Harry and Draco's thoughts. But I was thinking they just need to jump each other.

Kingsley is all kinds of awesome. I love the way you write them.

"I'm sorry about last time."

The Minister of Magic grinned. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

Just so cool! And I love the dialogue.

I was happy when they did. Too bad they got interrupted. But evil cliffie! I'm dying to know what's in that letter! I can't wait to see what happens next. :D

Wonderful job!

From:

There's Always Fiction

No Home for the Holidays - Part 9 (H/D, PG-13)

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