Chapter Text
The builder rang at nine forty-three with good news. Draco was in the kitchen. Harry had just put two slices of toast on a plate and was looking for the jam.
"Friday?" Draco asked.
Harry looked at him. On the line, the man explained what still needed finishing. Draco listened.
"And the kitchen?"
Another explanation.
"And the bathroom?"
Harry found the jam behind the teapot. He sat down.
"Right," Draco said. "I'll come round before then."
The man carried on. Draco looked at the window.
"No. I wanted to see it in person."
By the time he hung up, Harry had finished his first slice.
"Good news?"
Draco put down the phone.
"Apparently."
"When do they finish?"
"By Friday."
Harry looked down at his plate.
"This Friday?"
"That's what he said."
"Great."
Draco opened the tea tin. Harry picked up the second slice.
"You've been waiting for that."
"I still need to check a few things."
"Of course."
Draco put the leaves in the pot. There were several things to check. The bathroom finishes, the cupboard doors, the appliances. He wasn't simply going to accept the keys and discover the problems afterwards. Harry drank some water.
"So you'll move back at the weekend?"
Draco looked at him.
"If everything's ready."
"Right."
The kettle switched off. Draco poured the water. Harry checked the clock.
"We could have dinner before."
"We've already arranged Thursday."
"I know."
He picked up his cup.
"And after you go home?"
Draco stopped with the lid in his hand.
"After?"
"Dinner. We can carry on."
"Obviously."
Harry smiled. Draco put the lid on.
"I don't intend to sever all my relationships because the bathroom works."
"I'm glad I'm one of them."
He looked at Harry. Potter was still smiling. Draco went to fetch another cup.
✦ ✦ ✦
Hélène heard about the renovations during a call that had begun with another subject.
"Friday?" she repeated.
"According to the builder."
"That's good."
Draco swivelled the chair in Harry's study slightly away from the desk.
"There are still details."
"There will always be details."
"That's no reason to ignore them."
"You'll check."
"I intend to."
Hélène was silent for a moment.
"You sound less pleased than I expected."
"I'm waiting for confirmation."
"Draco."
"How was dinner?"
She laughed. He leaned back.
"So it was good."
"It was."
"The restaurant?"
"Good."
"The researcher?"
Hélène took a little longer.
"Him too."
Draco smiled.
"Did he tell any jokes?"
"A few."
"And you stayed?"
"I stayed."
The next silence contained something quite obvious. Draco looked at the open door.
"Hélène Marguerite."
She began laughing.
"What?"
"There's information missing."
"Would you like a report?"
"You offer extensive reports when they aren't needed."
"Neville is very..."
She stopped. Draco waited.
"Very what?"
"Good company."
His smile widened.
"A conservative choice of words."
"Would you like to discuss your move?"
Draco swivelled back to the desk.
"I need to work."
Hélène laughed again.
"Naturally."
✦ ✦ ✦
The visit to Mayfair offered no satisfactory reason to delay his return. Draco found the correct stone, doors that closed easily and a bathroom that no longer required imagination to recognise. He asked questions. The builder answered. He pointed out two small finishing touches. The man made a note.
"It'll all be ready by Friday," he repeated.
Draco looked at the kitchen. It was exactly as it should be. The proportions were right. So was the lighting. Nobody had left a mug beside the sink or a spoon somewhere absurd.
"I'll check again," he said.
The builder nodded with the expression of someone who had expected as much. Draco stayed a few more minutes. Then he returned to Fulham.
✦ ✦ ✦
Harry was in the sitting room when he arrived. Seated on the sofa, an open book in his lap and one leg tucked under him, he looked up.
"Well?"
Draco took off his coat.
"It's almost ready."
"Good."
"There are two finishing touches."
"Important ones?"
Draco hung up the coat.
"Finishing touches don't stop mattering because they're small."
Harry smiled.
"Right."
He returned to the room. The teapot stood on the table, an empty cup beside it.
"I made tea," Harry said.
Draco looked at the lid. It was in place. He sat. Harry closed the book with a finger between the pages.
"Would you like help taking your things back?"
"I didn't bring much."
Harry looked at the bookcase, where three of Draco's books occupied a space previously belonging to a medal. Then at the folder on the side table. Draco followed his gaze.
"That will fit in a bag."
"And the cup."
"The cup will be transported properly."
Harry laughed. Draco poured the tea. The room was quiet. From the kitchen came the faint hum of an appliance. Harry set his book aside and reached for his cup. For a while, neither returned to the subject of moving.
✦ ✦ ✦
After dinner, Draco went upstairs to answer some messages. When he came down, he found the door to the small garden open. Harry was outside, seated in one of two chairs by the wall. His phone rested on the table. He was still smiling at something. Draco stopped in the doorway.
"It's cold."
Harry turned.
"A bit."
He wore a jacket over his T-shirt. Draco looked at the phone.
"Something funny?"
"Ron rang. He found some old photos."
"With fish?"
Harry laughed.
"No fish."
Draco stepped outside and closed the door behind him. He pulled out the other chair.
"What of?"
"A trip we took years ago. There's one of me sitting on the floor, trying to teach something to a plant."
Draco looked at him.
"A plant."
"That's what Ron said. I don't remember that part."
"Were you drunk?"
Harry tilted his head, considering.
"Not exactly."
Draco waited. Harry smiled.
"That was when I tried cannabis."
Draco went quiet. Harry watched his face with evident interest.
"You're very surprised."
"I'm not."
"You stopped asking questions."
Draco settled into the chair.
"I was trying to understand the plant's involvement."
Harry laughed.
"I'll need to see the photo too."
"When was this?"
"Before all the travelling and competing. A long time ago."
Draco nodded slowly. Harry rested his head against the wall.
"It's not something I do now, Draco."
"I didn't ask."
"You were starting to organise the questions."
Draco folded his arms. Harry settled more comfortably.
"You're thinking something."
"I'm always thinking something."
"This looks very specific."
Draco looked at the garden. It was small, but pleasant. Harry had potted plants that appeared to have survived for reasons independent of his attention.
"I wasn't expecting it," he admitted.
"What? That I'd smoked?"
"Among other things."
Harry waited. Draco realised too late that he had offered an opening.
"What other things?"
"You could choose not to question everything I say."
"I could."
Harry kept looking. Draco sighed.
"You seemed very..."
He searched for a word that wouldn't give him away. Failed. Harry smiled.
"Very?"
"Put together."
Potter looked at his T-shirt.
"I wear clothes."
"In interviews."
"There too."
Draco turned towards him.
"You know perfectly well what I mean."
Harry seemed to consider this. Then he smiled differently.
"I think I do."
Draco looked back at the pots.
"I don't know why you're so pleased."
"You watched my interviews."
"They were on television."
"On your television."
Draco tightened his arms around himself. Harry looked at him.
"You're cold."
"I'm fine."
"Let's go in."
Harry picked up his phone, stood and waited. Draco could have remained seated on principle. He didn't.
✦ ✦ ✦
The sitting room felt especially warm after the garden. Harry went to close the kitchen door. Draco sat on the sofa and drew the throw from the back towards him, without yet deciding whether he intended to use it. When Harry returned, he looked at it.
"You can have that."
"I am having it."
Harry sat beside him. The throw settled over Draco's legs. For a few minutes, they discussed something he had said at dinner and a message Harry had received from Ron. Then Harry asked:
"Did you like me better before?"
Draco turned.
"Before what?"
Harry gestured towards the garden.
"The discoveries."
Draco looked at him. Harry seemed amused, but was waiting for an answer.
"I wasn't aware a comparison was under way."
"I'm asking now."
Draco adjusted a fold of the throw. He could think of several complaints. Some he had already made. Others had yet to find the right occasion. Harry continued waiting.
"You were easier to explain before," he said.
Potter began to laugh.
"And now?"
"Now I need more information."
Harry smiled. The distance between them had narrowed without Draco identifying when. He noticed Harry's hand resting on the sofa. The same hand that had touched his lashes a few days before. Harry followed his gaze. Then looked up at him.
"Can I kiss you?"
Draco went very still. Potter wasn't drunk. He wasn't holding a duvet. There was nobody else on the landing, no laughter coming from the bedroom. He was sitting close, waiting.
"Yes," Draco replied.
Harry moved closer. The kiss was more careful than Draco had imagined. He rested a hand on Harry's arm before realising he had raised it. When Potter drew back, he stopped far too close. Draco opened his eyes. Harry was smiling a little.
"All right?"
Draco looked at his mouth.
"You ask too many questions."
Harry began answering. He didn't finish. Draco put a hand behind his neck and drew him back.
✦ ✦ ✦
The throw ended up partly on the floor. Harry moved away just far enough to look at Draco. His hair was worse still. Draco ran his fingers through a lock and moved it to an equally unsuitable position. Harry smiled.
"It doesn't work."
"I noticed."
He left his hand where it was. For a while, they stayed close without seriously attempting to resume their earlier conversation. Then Harry looked at the throw.
"Still cold?"
Draco followed his gaze.
"Less so."
Harry gathered up the fallen end and spread it over them both. Draco watched.
"You'll pull it all to your side."
"I haven't even started."
"I'm anticipating."
Harry laughed. Draco settled a little closer. His phone vibrated on the table. He checked the screen. A message from the builder confirming Friday's appointment. Harry saw. He didn't ask. Draco left the phone where it was.
"Thursday's still on," he said.
Harry turned towards him.
"Dinner?"
"Yes."
"Still on."
Draco straightened the throw.
"And afterwards."
Harry smiled.
"Afterwards too."
He leaned in to kiss him again. Draco met his mouth before Harry had to cover the whole distance.