-1Chapter 35
"You're being ridiculous, you idiot! Just go. It will all go smoothly, and then after tonight, it'll all be over with. Just go."
With those last words to himself, he apparated.
He was still fuming as he made his way up walk to the front door, muttering to himself. He and Skye had just had one of their few and far-between fights, and Harry was royally pissed.
After Harry had talked to Draco the other day, he'd asked Skye to go with him. Skye reluctantly said yes after stating that he thought it would be healthier for Harry to go alone so he could say whatever he needed to say without worrying about what Skye thought of it. But just as Harry was getting ready to leave, Skye said he already made plans with his friends.
Harry couldn't understand it. He didn't want to be alone with Draco, for reasons he thought were quite obvious--could Skye get that? He knew that Skye thought it was best for Harry and Draco both to get closure, but maybe it wasn't best for them. Maybe they had all the closure they needed as it was. Maybe any more of this would cause some serious damage.
He took a deep breath as he stopped in front of the door. There was a note taped just below the peephole of the white door.
'Harry and Skye,
I'm in the shower. Please come in and make yourselves at home. There's food on the stove, help yourselves to some.
Draco'
Harry sighed as he pushed the door open and stepped inside. The house was almost exactly like he remembered it. The walls were still undecorated and there was very little furniture; just a couch, a coffee table, an armchair, and a television. Piles of dirty dishes and empty beer bottles were distributed throughout the large room, making it look more like a junk yard than a house.
Harry rolled his eyes and walked across the room to the entrance of the kitchen, carefully stepping over the mess.
There was a small pot full of spaghetti noodles, and some marinara sauce simmering on the burner. There was a stack of plates next the stove, which appeared to be clean, so Harry picked one up and dished a little bit of food onto it. He looked through the drawers until he found the silverware and grabbed a fork. Then he made his way back to the living room and took a seat on the couch.
He ate slowly while he waited for Draco, turning his fight with Skye over and over again in his mind, but he was almost done eating by the time the blond showed up.
Draco came jogging down the stairs, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. He was still wet from his shower. Harry couldn't help but stare.
"Oh, Merlin, Harry, I'm so bloody sorry," Draco said, exasperated. He folded his arms over his chest. "Quidditch practice ran late because Oliver didn't think we were doing the play right. I only just got home a few minutes before seven."
"It's alright," Harry said with a mouthful of spaghetti, averting his eyes from Draco's defined muscles.
"Where's Skye?" the blond asked as he half-jogged to the door right in front of the kitchen entrance--the laundry room.
Harry glowered. "He's busy."
Draco pulled a pair of bower-briefs from the dryer and pulled them on under the towel, the dried off the rest of his body. He pulled on a pair of loose-fit blue jeans and a dark green long-sleeved shirt. Harry watched, mouth slightly agape.
Draco smirked as he closed the door to the laundry room. "You don't have to make it so bloody obvious, Harry."
Harry flushed pale and looked down at his plate. "Sorry."
"Don't be." The blond sat down in the armchair across the coffee table from the couch. There was a pause as they both thought for things to say.
"So," Harry sighed, "what's with the lack of furniture?"
The blond looked around, then blushed slightly. "Uh…. I don't spend a lot of time here. The team's usually touring, and when we aren't, I usually crash at Oliver's or Quin's place…. Sometimes it's kind of hard to stay here…." He looked down at his hands, almost nervously.
"Because of me?" Harry asked, setting his plate down on the coffee table. Draco nodded. "Oh." He didn't know what to say. He didn't think that after two years, it would still be that hard for Draco.
Harry stared down at the plate on the coffee table, thinking of what to say. They both were at a loss for words.
After a moment, Draco stood up slowly, moved around the coffee table, and sat down on the couch next to Harry. He put one hand on Harry's shoulder, and pulled Harry's chin toward his gently with the other. He placed a soft kiss on the other man's lips. Harry was stunned.
They were both silent for a moment more as Harry took this in. Draco had just kissed him. His ex-husband had just kissed him. The man that had broken his heart had just kissed him. And it was good. Just as Harry remembered.
Draco's lips were soft, oh-so soft. His hand on Harry's cheek was just as soft, and warm and loving. Draco's eyes were hopeful as Harry peered into them, and so beautiful. But no matter how beautiful Draco was, no matter how loving or gentle, Harry couldn't get Skye out of his head. His boyfriend. His trusting, naïve boyfriend.
"Draco…" Harry murmured as he pulled away from the other man, burying his face in his hands.
"I know," Draco sighed. He stood and began pacing the room. "I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have done any of this. It was really bloody stupid of me to think that you'd want me back."
The raven-haired man nodded. "Yeah. Look, Draco. I have to go. Thanks for the food. See you around." He stood to leave, pulling his coat on over his shoulders and nearly running to the door.
"Wait! Harry, please!"
With a sigh, he turned around again. "What, Draco?"
The blond sighed and sat back down on the couch, a desperate look on his face. "Come on. Please. Just come back, and we can talk. I won't try anything again, I swear."
"Why?" Harry asked, annoyed. "What's the point, Draco? We have nothing to talk about. There's nothing to discuss."
Draco gave him a pleading look. Harry was defeated.
"Fine." He moved back over to the couch and sat down next to Draco, making sure Draco sensed his reluctance. "Let's just get this over with. What do you want to talk about?"
Draco jumped on the opportunity. "How are you? How have you been since… you know… the divorce?"
"I'm good," Harry shrugged. "I took some time off from Auror training right after the divorce, just so I could get back on my feet and raise enough money to support myself, but I started again this fall. And Ron and Hermione got married a few months ago. She's pregnant, too. And Ginny's practically engaged to this guy she met at work."
"Wow," Draco muttered distantly, staring at the coffee table, his eyes glazed over. "I missed a lot, eh?"
Harry nodded, placing his elbows against his knees and leaning down on his hands. "Yeah, you did."
It took a moment for Draco to pull himself out of his trance. He stood with a sigh and went into the kitchen without a word. He came back a few moments later with a plate of food and a mouthful of spaghetti. He sat back down in the armchair and started eating.
"What about you?" Harry asked. "How have you been?"
Draco shrugged, watching intently as he spun the noodles around his fork. "I've been alright. It was hard at first, but it's alright now, I guess. Been hanging out with guys on the team, mostly. Don't really have time to make a whole bunch of new friends, because the team's touring so much lately. But it's good." He took a bite. They were both silent until he swallowed. "What… what about, uh… Skye?" he asked uncertainly. Harry wasn't sure if he was hesitant to ask in general, or hesitant to see if he'd gotten the name right.
"Draco…." Harry sighed. "I don't think we should go there. This is not a good idea."
"Please," Draco nearly begged, setting his plate down on the coffee table, most of the food still untouched.
Harry slouched into the couch. "Why, Draco?"
The blond stood again and began pacing the floor in front of the coffee table slowly, hands in his pockets. He was silent for a long moment, before stopping and turning to Harry. "I just need to know that you're alright. I need to know… I need to know that he takes care of you. Does he take care of you?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "I don't need anyone to take care of me, Draco. I can take care of myself bloody well enough on my own." Draco just stared at him. "Yes, if you must know. He takes care of me."
"So you're happy?" Draco asked, trying to hide his disappointment. After two years, was he still supposed to be disappointed that his ex-husband is with someone else? He thought two years was more than plenty of time for him to get over it, and yet he hadn't. "You're really happy?" Harry nodded, and Draco sighed, folding his arms over his chest. "That's good. I-I'm glad. I really am. I want you to be happy."
He sat down on the couch again, arms leaned down on his knees, head bent toward the floor. His silver hair fell in his eyes, blocking Harry's view of his face.
Harry shuddered. It had been a long time since he'd seen Draco so vulnerable. It was starting to get to him.
"Draco…."
The blond looked up. His storm-gray eyes connected with Harry's, and Harry forgot what he was going to say. Dear god, Draco had beautiful eyes. Harry had forgotten about that.
Before he knew what was happening, Draco was kissing him again, and Harry wasn't pulling away. Pushing all thoughts of Skye to the back of his mind, Harry slid his hands to the back of Draco's neck and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. Draco was hesitant, waiting for Harry to change his mind, to pull away again, but he didn't.
Harry leaned back onto the armrest of the couch, pulling Draco down on top of him. He ran his hands down Draco's back and pushed them up under his shirt. Draco pulled back slightly.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked, almost reluctantly. He didn't want to stop, he didn't want to risk it, but he had to know that Harry was sure.
Harry's mind was screaming at him as he slid his hands downward once again, to the hem of Draco's jeans. He knew he should stop. He knew he should have never done this in the first place…. But he had gone for two years without any sort of satisfaction that didn't come from his own hand, and he wasn't too sure he cared about morality anymore--maybe it was cheating, but he needed it.
As Draco's hand slipped down inside his pants and began caressing him, he gasped. "Fuck, yes."
He was still panting as he pulled his jeans on. Draco lay on the couch still, immobile and breathless. "Merlin, I missed you," he murmured, reaching out for Harry's hand. Harry pulled away.
"This was a mistake," he stated flatly, buckling his belt.
Draco was shocked. He gaped at the raven-haired man dressing before him for a moment. "But…. We just…."
"I know," Harry sighed. "I'm sorry. But I made a mistake. We shouldn't have done this. I have a boyfriend. I love him. I like my life, Draco. I don't want to fuck it up." Draco blinked at him, silently, eyes watering with tears. "Look, Draco… I'm sorry. But I can't do this again. It's a mistake."
As he grabbed his coat from the armchair, Draco jumped to his feet and pulled his own jeans on. He followed Harry to the front door, trying to think of something to say that just might get the other man to stay.
"Please don't go," he pleaded, tears spilling onto his cheeks.
Harry shook his head as he opened the door and stepped out. "Bye, Draco."
There was a loud thud. His eyes snapped open. Another thud, coming from down the hall. He could feel Hermione shift next to him"Don't get up," Ron muttered as he pushed himself out of bed. "Go back to sleep. I'll get it."
She pushed herself to her feet anyway, grumbling to herself. "Not like I'd be able to get back to sleep anyway…. I've got a hard enough time getting to sleep at night without these bloody tossers pounding down our door at all hours…."
The knocking persisted, growing louder and louder. "I'm coming!" Ron barked as he half-jogged down the hall and unlocked the door. "What the bloody…"
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, shocked. What are you doing here?"
There stood their best friend, standing on their front porch at two o'clock in the morning, tears streaming from his eyes. He stepped inside and buried his face in Hermione's shoulder, muffling his sobs. She held him for a moment, shooting confused looks at her husband, before ushering his over to the couch. He fell onto the couch and covered his face with his hands, body shaking with suppressed sobs.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Ron asked soothingly, sitting next to his best friend. "What happened?"
"I slept with Draco!" he whimpered.
A/N: Okay, I've got SOOOO many good excuses this time. I really do. One, my computer caught a virus. I was SO CLOSE to finishing this chapter and my damn laptop caught a virus and I had to wipe everything. Stupid me, I never back up my work…. But you all know how that goes, with the disks :P Two. I got put on academic probation. At my school we have to have a 2.0 or higher or we'll get kicked out, and I had a 1.7 or something like that, so I got put on academic probation for a semester. Three, I didn't get my GPA up before the end of the semester. But I didn't get kicked out of school, because I had all good grades up until this year. I just had to do summer school. Yes. That is number three. Summer school.
I know you all want to kill me. And really, I don't blame you. I would want to kill me too…. But I'm working REALLY hard right now, so please be patient XD
And now, my computer is acting up. I couldn't log in to my administration accounts for absolutely no reason, for about a week, so I couldn't update sooner and I couldn't work on the next chapter, because, of course, they were both on the administration accounts. But I'm keeping the next chapter in my notebook now, in case my laptop decides to be a bitch again. Hopefully I'll have it out soon, but I'm kind of going through a lot right now. (As I think I've said before, if you want to hear these reasons, which you probably don't, go to my web journal. It's set as my home page from my profile.)
Alright! I'm off to... either sleep, or write. I dunno which first.
TTFN!
Deathdragon4