Keep Him Safe
Title: Keep Him Safe
Rating: PG 13
Word Count: 750
Summary: Harry will keep Draco safe, one way or another.
Author’s notes: Written for awdt's Halloween Quickies prompt 9: werewolves and wolf shifters are not the same.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This was written for fun, not profit.
“No!” Harry snarled, angrily slamming his fist on the table. “It’s not up for discussion! I fucking forbid it!”
Malfoy flinched slightly, but his face remained blank. “Harry, calm down,” he ordered softly. The fact that he was addressing him as ‘Harry’ and that he was using that voice- the calming soothing tone that he would probably take with a cornered, dangerous animal - only made Harry angrier.
“You forbid it?” another nasally voice entered the conversation. Harry turned the full extent of his glare on Dawlish, mentally willing the bastard to burst into flames. This was his fault!
Auror Dawlish held his ground, snarling back at Harry. “Need I remind you, Potter that I run the Auror Corps! Greyback’s on a rampage! Four hits in one night, and that was yesterday! He’s out there in the Forest with his band of merry monsters and we need a fucking location! Now get out of the way and let Malfoy do his job or I swear to Merlin I’ll…”
“He’s my partner!” Harry roared, the room practically reverberating with his territorial fury. Dawlish barely suppressed a wince as a bookcase came crashing down. Harry seethed on, completely unaware of his magical rampage. “Greyback is a maniac! You are not sending Malfoy into a pack of wolves without back up!”
“Malfoy is equipped to handle this!” Dawlish argued. “He’s the only one who can get close enough!”
“Werewolves and wolf shifters are not the same!” Harry snarled. “If you think they won’t be able to tell an Animagus from a werewolf you’re even stupider than you look!”
“You are crossing the fucking line, Potter!” Dawlish howled. “He’s going and that’s final!”
“He’s not going!” Harry raged.
“He is standing right here!” Malfoy broke in angrily. “And I’d appreciate it if I could be part of this delightful debate!”
Both men snapped towards Malfoy’s direction. The blond glared back, his eyes flashing and his mouth pressed in a thin, determined line. Harry recognized that implacable look and he despaired. It was the same look Draco gave him when he was determined to talk Harry out of something stupid. Ironic, really. He opened his mouth to argue but Draco beat him to it.
“That’s enough, Potter,” he said. “You’re overreacting. It’s a simple tracking mission. Which I am more than capable of handling, I assure you.”
“It’s a suicide mission!” Harry contested angrily. “Would you let me go out there alone?”
“Would you let me talk you out of it?” Malfoy challenged, with a smirk.
Harry scowled and opened his mouth to say something on the lines of ‘that’s different’ but halted when Malfoy grinned and placed a hand on his shoulder. Harry felt some of the tension leave his frame as those long, slender fingers pressed down gently. “It’s going to be alright,” Draco murmured soothingly.
“Don’t go,” Harry whispered desperately. He didn't know what else to say or do. He didn't know how to keep Draco here with him, keep him safe…
Draco’s lifted his shoulders in a half shrug and stepped away. Harry couldn't help feeling bereft when the blond’s fingers withdrew from his heated skin.
Dawlish cleared his throat, reminding them of his presence. “I’ll expect a full report by morning, Malfoy.” Harry clenched his fists, willing himself not to hex the man.
Draco nodded curtly, then gave Harry another reassuring smirk and walked away. His footsteps echoed in the silence.
Harry watched him leave and experienced a renewed surge of determined resolve. Making his decision, he raised his wand.
“Expecto Patronum.”
The stag shimmered before him and lifted its head regally. “Go after him,” Harry ordered without preamble. “Stay out of sight- don’t let him see you and don’t interfere unless it’s necessary. Keep him safe.” The stag took off gracefully, leaving Harry behind with a squawking Dawlish.
“Potter! You can’t just…”
“I’m looking out for him one way or another,” Harry cut in quietly. He must have looked as determined as he felt, because Dawlish subsided reluctantly.
Harry didn't want to be in the same room as him anymore. He turned to leave, but before he walked out he threw one last remark over his shoulder. “You better pray he comes back unharmed, Dawlish. Or you’ll have more than an unfinished report to worry about.”
“Is that a threat, Potter?” Dawlish bristled, his face reflecting anger and a hint of worry.
“It’s a promise,” Harry replied, slamming the door behind him.
Follow up: Keep Him Safe #2