The End of a Legacy (H/D, PG-13)

[sesheta66]

Title:   The End of a Legacy
Author:   sesheta_66
Rating:   PG13
Pairing:   HP/DM, naturally
Word Count:   668
Warnings:   No beta. All mistakes are mine. Feel free to point them out.
Disclaimer:   HP world belongs to JK Rowling. No money made by me - I am only playing.
A/N:   This had started as a 100-word drabble, in response to the “Leaving Home" challenge on dracoharry100, but quickly became much more than 100 words. I couldn’t do it justice by cutting it back, so here is the result.  X-posted to harrydraco and harry_draco.

The End of a Legacy

It was harder than he thought it would be. After all, who would want to live in a place that constantly reminded you of your family’s dark history? There had never been a point in his life, before this past year, when Draco had ever considered living anywhere else. But now, with the death of both of his parents, he had decided to make a clean break, or so he had thought.

Now, walking around the manor grounds, he found himself unexpectedly maudlin. That wouldn't do, now would it? Malfoys didn't get maudlin. They kept their chins up, and faced whatever life handed them. Besides, it was too late now. The manor had sold for the price he had asked, in record time, and the closing was tomorrow. This was his last chance to walk around his childhood home, the last time he would be here. In his haste to sell, he had even sold it fully furnished, not wanting to take anything with him.

He apparated back to Grimmauld Place, his new home with Harry, and immediately ran to the washroom to be sick. Merlin, what was happening to him? Malfoys didn’t vomit! Certainly not over something such as a house. Well, that was it, wasn't it? It wasn't just a house. It was his legacy. No matter what that represented, it was his. There were happy memories contained within those walls, within the grounds. He couldn’t deny that. But he also couldn't do a damn thing about it! Why the hell had he acted so rashly? Why had he done something so incredibly foolish?

Harry came home to find Draco curled up in his favourite spot in the drawing room, looking despondent. “Tea?”

“Please."

”Want to talk about it?"

"Not really." He took a sip from his tea. “Mm, thanks.”

“Any time."

“Harry, what was I thinking? I can’t believe my family home is going to belong to someone else tomorrow. I thought I could do this, but now, suddenly, I know - I just know - it was the wrong thing to do. But I talked to my lawyer, and there’s absolutely nothing I can do to get out of this deal. How could I have been so stupid? How could you have let me? Why didn't you talk me out of it?”

Harry sat still, saying nothing, and let Draco get it all out. This was the first time he had even hinted that he might have had doubts. A small smile crept onto Harry’s face as he leaned over. “Draco, I have something to show you.” He went over to his desk, removed a folder, and handed it over to Draco.

“What's this, Harry? Really, please, I can’t deal with anything else today.”

“Read it.”

Draco opened the folder, and looked through the contents. After a couple of minutes, he dropped the papers to the floor. "You?”

“Me.” Harry smiled.

"YOU bought the manor? Whatever would you do something like that for?”

“Because, Draco, I knew that you were acting out of feelings that you might not always have. Because you wouldn’t listen to anything I tried to say. Because you made up your mind before you even gave yourself a chance to process the consequences. Because I always jump in without thinking, and it seemed the right thing to do. Because I figured I could just sell it quietly if you decided you didn't want it, but I wanted you to have the chance to change your mind. Because it was always something that was such a significant part of your life. Because I couldn’t imagine having that - a real home that ties you to your past - and then giving it up if I had.”

Harry walked over to Draco, wrapped his arms around him, and pulled him into an embrace. Pulling back, he looked at the tears welling up in Draco’s eyes, and planted a soft kiss on his lips. “Because I love you.”

“I love you too, Harry."

Comments

[graylor.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean: my family has lived in this area (southern Appalachians, US) since the 1700s. While we don't have a "family house" as such, we seem fairly attached to the land (in that out of a large family, only a handful live elsewhere). The idea of moving away is amusing in fantasy, but scary in reality.

If you've the patience, you might study your genealogy: you may have relatives you didn't even know existed already in Canada.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

*sighs* That would be so nice. My sister, my kids & I are going to Britain this summer, and that's some of what I'll be doing while there. We'll see how far that gets us :)