herumtreiber

Title: Windbound 6/??
Chapter: six
Author:herumtreiber
Genre: post DH, slash, romance, adventure
Disclaimer: The world and characters of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling. Nor do I make any money from the writing of these stories.
Rating: R
Warnings: Sexual content
Epilogue compliant? Epilogue complaisant
Chapter length: 1756 words
Beta: None.
Summary: Draco/Harry, Ron/Hermione, Hannah/Dean, Justin/Daphne, Ginny/??? My take on the Marriage Law. Should they obey the government’s edict or fight it the Muggle way? This leads to marriage equality. Plus there’s a twist exploring how a Horcrux operates. Good!Lucius, finally:) Hufflepuff house is amply represented here.

Table of contents

Chapter five

Inside Honeydukes, Draco used his Occlumency training to push the unwanted feelings aside. He didn’t want to jeopardise his outing with Harry. It wasn’t the Gryffindor’s fault that his grandfather was such a hypocrite.

When Harry entered the shop with a puzzled look, Draco shrugged and motioned to the shelves stacked with sweets.

Harry lifted an eyebrow and walked to the shelf where the Chocolate Frogs were, which was near the windows at the back of the store.

Draco grabbed some sweets and approached the raven-haired man. The Slytherin leaned towards the window and motioned to the left, to the Shrieking Shack. “I saw your head floating in midair, Harry.”

Harry smirked and tried to look innocent. “Really?”

“I thought you were a ghost,” continued the blond. “Or that you’d splinched yourself and your body was elsewhere.”

Harry grabbed a box of sweets and smiled sweetly.

“I should’ve been so lucky!” added the blond with a smirk.

Harry smacked him in the arm with the box.

Harry commented sombrely, “I reckon the last time I was there was when Snape died.”

Draco cringed, remembering the people he lost during the war. He put back the box of sweets he’d grabbed –he wasn’t that hungry anymore.

After paying for the goods, the boys continued their leisure walk through High Street. When they reached Gladrags, Draco motioned for Harry to enter.

The Gryffindor sighed and opened the door; he wasn’t too keen on browsing through scores of gaudy clothes.

Draco looked at the merchandise with a bored mien, until he noticed a vest made of velour. Searching through the multicoloured garments, he picked up a cream vest which he threw at Harry. For himself, Draco chose a dark blue one.

Harry grumbled as he struggled to put on the vest in front of the ornate mirror at the back of the store.

Looking at their reflections, Draco noticed their contrasting appearance. Their looks complemented each other, like they were halves of a whole - like Plato’s souls.

The blond sighed, remembering another clothing store long ago, an occasion in which a young boy met another one, the child of prophecy. What would have happened if Harry had become my friend? Would we have survived Voldemort’s onslaught or perished?

When Harry insisted in paying at the counter, Draco brushed aside his Galleons. “My treat, Harry.”

“I insist, Draco.” Harry put his hands on the golden coins and pushed them towards the clerk. “I liked the thing, though you could’ve picked a brighter colour – like gold.”

Draco shrugged his shoulders. “Ever the Gryffindor, huh?”

Passing through Scrivenshaft’s, Harry pointed to the store, lifting an eyebrow.

“I have enough quills for now, Harry.”

Harry shrugged and continued through the side street. He opened the door to Puddifoot’s and motioned for Draco to enter. “Ladies first?”

“You wish, Potter!” growled Draco, stomping into the brightly coloured room.

Harry smirked, following the blond inside. It seemed that this date wouldn’t be Cho-like at all.

Harry looked up from the menu and noticed Draco’s scowl. The Slytherin seemed undecided about what treat to order.

When the waitress came up to them, she looked at Harry with awe-struck eyes. The Gryffindor scowled; frankly he was getting tired of the adoration of the wizarding world.

Putting the menu on the table, Harry said, “I’d like a Hot Fudge Sundae.”

Draco frowned at the girl’s obvious fixation on the Saviour. He stabbed his hand towards Harry. “I’ll have the same, thank you.”

Looking at the golden cherubs decorating the walls, Draco said, “See what you meant about the decor, Harry. These things make me want to use them to practice curses.”

Harry smiled at the Slytherin. So far Draco’s not dull or teary-eyed, thank Merlin! He’s rather demanding, but it’s nothing I didn’t expect.

The two fell into companionable silence as they ate their treats. Afterwards they talked about the comparatively minor misadventures of returning to their final year at Hogwarts.

“It must seem dull to you, Harry,” said Draco whilst he wiped his mouth with the napkin. Harry observed his pouty lips, wanting to find out if they were as succulent as they appeared.

“... told me about the camping.” Harry replied a bit absent-mindedly, “They did?”

Draco sighed wearily – Harry seemed to be in a world of his own. “Granger told me how you spent a lot of time camping out.”

Recalling their time hunting the horcruxes, Harry shivered. He certainly didn’t miss it. He remembered the fight with Ron and all the vicissitudes they endured.

“Yeah, we were out in the wilderness while you had it easy, Malfoy,” said Harry with a playful smirk.

“I’ll let you know I wasn’t in a bed of roses, those Carrows were awful, Potter,” replied Draco with no heat.

There was an easy camaraderie belied by their pointed commentary. Both boys were aware of the yokes the other laboured under. Both recalled their childhood – neither golden nor innocent.

After two hours, they left Puddifoot's. Draco shivered in the autumnal weather. He looked at Harry’s smiling face – squinting a bit because of the glare of the sun.

The pair crossed High Street to enter Dervish and Banges. The owner, Mr. Joseph Dervish, instantly recognised the blond mane of the Malfoys. He said obsequiously, "Good evening, Mr. Malfoy, what can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for a good Sneakoscope, can you recommend one?" said Draco whilst he looked at all the shiny magical devices.

The balding owner went to the back of the shop and returned with a battered Sneakoscope - which started sounding immediately.

Mr. Dervish blushed, obviously mortified by the impertinent artefact, smiled bashfully at Draco, and turned to walk to the back of the store. He returned with a newer Sneakoscope - which started blaring an infernal noise.

Harry frowned as he covered his ears. No wonder the things go off like crazy. After all Draco’s here. I reckon there isn’t anyone more sneaky, thought Harry fondly.

Harry chastised himself for his uncharitable thoughts. I should think about how this sneakiness of Draco’s impacts the greater good.

After the next device went off, Draco shrugged at Mr. Dervish and turned to the door.

The owner tugged the strings of his smock. "I'm sorry the Sneakoscopes didn't work. They're supposed to be attuned to any level of conspiracy.”

Harry nodded heartily. After all, Moody always complained that the dratted things went off when he was near Dung Fletcher.

“I’ve heard that you’ve a deft hand regarding magical objects, Mr. Malfoy, is it true?"

Draco blushed, nodding reluctantly. His trying days when he repaired the Vanishing Cabinet were not amongst his shining moments, though when he worked hard he’d managed to forget for a moment the threat he was labouring under.

"Then I’d like to offer you employment - a partnership if you will,” continued the owner, his shining pate reflecting the light of the lone sconce.

“I’ll retire in a few years and I’ve no one to continue my work.” Dervish scowled at the window showing the busy street outside the shop.

“Hardly anyone cares about magical machines these days,” explained Dervish in a gruff voice. “They prefer the Muggle ones or they expect the magical ones to run forever."

Dervish looked at Draco piercingly. "Been looking for someone like you, handy and curious. You don't have to answer right now” – Dervish took out his smock and regarded the Slytherin with a pensive expression – “I’d like if you tell me before you leave Hogwarts.”

Draco went to Mr. Dervish and shook his hand energetically.

The two walked in silence towards the other end of High Street. Harry’s gaze strayed towards the gaily decorated shops and houses lining the street.

I reckon people don’t compliment Draco often – and when they do, it’s because he’s rich. Just like my fans don’t thank me for who I am, rather ‘because I’m the Saviour. Harry snorted and when Draco looked at him, lifting an eyebrow inquiringly, the Gryffindor shrugged nonchalantly.

Passing Hogsmeade Station, they started a conversation about their prospective wives under the Marriage Law.

“I’m not too keen on marrying Ginny,” said Harry with a heartfelt sigh. “But what can I do – it’s what the people expect. I have to sacrifice myself for the greater good, you know.”

Draco rolled his eyes. Harry sometimes was a bit too much. “I don’t fancy Lavender much” – Draco scrunched up his face – “she swooned after the Weasel, for Merlin’s sake!”

The Slytherin reclined against a tree and propped up his right feet, unaware that Harry was looking at him with hungry eyes. “Who would you marry if you had a free hand, Harry?”

Harry crossed his hands behind his back and gazed at the direction where Hogwarts was. “Don’t know, Draco.”

The Gryffindor worried his lip bottom, unaware of Draco’s lust-filled gaze directed at him. “If I had the choice I’d prefer” – Harry looked shyly in Draco’s direction, blushing profusely – “a wizard rather than a witch; if you catch my drift.”

Draco crossed his arms and smirked, his blond hair shined brightly in the sunlight. After a few seconds, he drawled, “So would I, Harry – so would I.”

Harry nervously hefted the bag with his new vest, he felt a bit dizzy. His eyes were sparkling at the news that he was not alone in his orientation, the sexy Slytherin was of the same mind.

Draco seized the chance offered by the blushing Harry. He approached the Gryffindor and brushed his chin with a kiss. Harry moaned; grabbing the Slytherin by his tie – holding him near, looking at him with eyes darkened with lust.

Draco’s lips felt as soft as they looked, mused Harry before he was engulfed in the heated kiss and was unable to thought coherently.

When Draco’s tongue brushed his lips, Harry had no qualms opening his mouth. His tongue explored Harry’s mouth in sinuous movements resembling those of a snake. Harry was so consumed by the kiss, he didn’t ponder if it was wet or soft – it just was.

While Ginny was soft and tender, Draco was harsh and unrelenting in his heated pursuit of pleasure; yet underlying it all was a tentative, loving quality.

Harry felt heaviness in his lower abdomen that demanded to be sated. He pinned Draco against the birch that supported his slender frame and vigorously replied to the Slytherin’s attack, groping his chest, vainly trying to reach beneath his dratted robe.

After a while it was Harry’s turn to be manhandled into the grass.

Chapter seven