Fran's Story Archive - Flight
I was talking to olivia_lupin last night about The London Eye, and I mentioned that I had written a Resolution ficlet that took place on the Eye. Olivia said she hadn't read it and I realised that this had only ever been posted on the Guns and Handcuffs forum of FictionAlley back when it was originally written.
It was written, I think, in 2002 after a discussion on the forum about famous places Harry and Draco might make out *g*.
Flight takes place on Harry's 20th birthday.
Rated PG-13.
Flight
“I’ve never had a birthday.”
“Of course you have -- this is your 20th.”
“No, I mean a celebration. A party. You know.”
Draco sighed slightly. Yes, he knew. Unlike Harry, who had missed out on nearly all his birthdays, Draco’s own had always been celebrated lavishly with parties for children and dances for their parents. His father had never been one to miss an opportunity to show off. “I did think about a real party. Cake, music, dancing.”
“I’m glad you didn’t. This has been perfect.” Harry turned towards him, leaning back against the polished wooden handrail, which ran at waist height around the glass capsule. “Everything from breakfast this morning to this now. Thank you.” He gave an innocent little smile before turning back to the view.
Draco’s stomach flipped at the look and he closed his eyes, exhaling a long contented breath.
Standing on the opposite side of the capsule, Draco was happy to watch the slight figure take in the view of the London skyline as the London Eye turned yet another circle on its never-ending ride through the still July air. Harry looked elegant today in his new designer clothes, just casual enough to suit the mood of the day, but smart enough for Draco to take him anywhere. He had to admit to taking a strange delight in dressing Harry’s 5ft 6in frame. Harry had once told him he wasn’t some Barbie doll for Draco to play dress-up with, but he never stopped Draco’s efforts at finding just the right outfit. Such as today with the dark fitted trousers and summer shirt.
The whole day had taken some planning and this trip on London’s newest attraction had been the most difficult. He had only managed to get the tickets by pulling some strings and calling in a favour. The huge Ferris wheel, which hung out over the River Thames, had a troubled beginning, but was fast becoming one of the hottest tickets for the tourist trade. This trip, which started just as dusk was falling over the capital, was a particular favourite for lovers and die-hard romantics.
Draco wondered which category he came into, and decided at that moment it was definitely both.
He glanced around at the other crowded capsules and noticed that some people were pointing. No doubt thinking there must be someone famous here to warrant their own private flight.
Yes, the trips were called ‘flights’ because the Eye was sponsored by an airline and, Draco smiled, Firebolt International, which was how he got the tickets. The builders of the wheel would never have gotten it to work without the help of the foremost broomstick designers in the world.
And, of course, there was someone famous here. The Boy Who Lived. Still fighting evil. Still striving to make things right.
Draco pushed away from his place by the capsule entrance and walked slowly round the elegant wooden bench that took up about half the floor space. The bottle of Champagne standing on the bench, complete with its stylish ice bucket and twin flutes, remained unopened. The capsule was almost at the top of its loop now and London was spread out before them, a world made silent by the glass surroundings. He could almost imagine they were flying.
Stopping beside Harry, he looked at the other’s face. “What are you thinking?” he finally asked.
“Oh, about how peaceful this is and how nice it’s been.” A hand came out and Draco felt the fingers brush lightly on his back before it returned to the rail. “I wish I could stay here forever. I wish I didn’t have to go away tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to, you know.”
“I do. Voldemort’s people have started killing Muggles. He has to be stopped.”
Draco opened his mouth to respond but decided against it. He wanted to say, ‘And you think you are the only one capable of stopping him’, but he bit back the retort. They’d had the same argument so many times in the past and he wasn’t going to risk spoiling the moment now. Voldemort had forced them apart too much already.
“I have something for you.”
“More presents?”
Green eye turned to him with an eagerness more suited to a person half Harry’s age. Draco found it strangely endearing. When Harry had finally told him of his childhood with the Dursleys, Draco had been shocked at their cruelty. And equality perturbed at how his own actions had added to Harry’s torment. Still, he had put the fear of God into both Vernon and Petunia now, and one day they would pay for what they had done to Harry.
It amazed Draco that Harry still found it difficult to accept people wanted to buy him things and to do nice things for him. He knew that his lover would be just as happy with a Chocolate Frog now as anything. He reached out a hand and brushed at Harry’s hair. Harry leaned into the gesture and his lips touched Draco’s wrist
“It’s not really a present.” There was a hitch in Draco’s voice as he spoke. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small box and handed it to Harry. The lid was quickly removed. Inside was a very thin silver chain.
Harry pulled the chain from the box and held it between his fingers. It swung lazily before him, the light catching the small disc of rose quartz that hung from the bottom. Taking the disc in his free hand, Harry studied the tiny symbols engraved meticulously on its surface. “This is your work.” It was a statement, not a question, Harry always recognised Draco’s magical work. “It’s lovely. What is it?”
“It’s a protection charm.” Draco chewed at his bottom lip for a moment. “And it will let me know if you are okay. I worry when you aren’t here.”
“And you don’t think I worry about you?” The green eyes flashed with a touch of annoyance, and Draco knew this was yet another subject of contention between them -- Harry’s safety. “I’m not the only one who’s out there fighting the bad guys.”
“This is different and you know it.”
“Oh? And you giving up everything to be with me doesn’t count? If your father got hold of you now...”
“But he won’t.” The voice was soft, calming. “And besides I don’t care as long as I have you. You do know that don’t you.” The hand returned to rest lightly on Harry’s neck. “Harry, you are the most important thing in the world to me. I would be lost without you. I nearly was lost until you found me and brought me back from him, from that Darkness.” Draco suddenly gathered Harry into his arms, holding him so tightly that it was hard for him to breath. The dark head nestled against his shoulder and Draco hand moved slowly from Harry’s back to rest against the hair. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“You know I will.”
The words reverberated against Draco’s chest and he suddenly tilted the head upwards, needing to see the face. He was taller than Harry now by several inches and had to bend slightly to capture the lips in a gentle kiss. It was not a great kiss, there was no passion, or excitement in it, but it conveyed something much more profound to them both. It was about belonging and trust.
When Draco pulled back, Harry was smiling. “What would I do without you?” This time it was Harry’s hand touching Draco’s face.
“Well, probably have less dress sense for one thing. Will you wear this for me?” Draco took the chain from Harry’s fingers. “Please.”
“Of course, I will. Do you really need to ask? But I worry too. I want to know you’re okay. Will you make one for yourself?”
Placing the chain around Harry’s neck, Draco slipped the sliver of rose quartz inside Harry’s shirt before resting a hand over the place it lay. For a second Draco was aware of warmth coming both from the crystal and his own hand. He could sense the magical connection joining the charm to himself and Harry. “I can’t make one for myself. You’ll have to do it when you’re next home.”
“How?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll teach you.”
“Do we have much longer on here?”
“Well, we could go round again if you want.”
Harry smiled and turned back to face the rail. “I’d like that.”
Draco stepped behind Harry and placed his arms round the other’s shoulder. They draped down, hand’s resting lightly over Harry’s heart. He felt Harry lean back and he gratefully accepted the slight weight against himself as he rested a cheek against the dark hair.
Together they watched the lights as night settled across the city, content in their own safe world for the moment.
-----------------------
It was written, I think, in 2002 after a discussion on the forum about famous places Harry and Draco might make out *g*.
Flight takes place on Harry's 20th birthday.
Rated PG-13.
Flight
“I’ve never had a birthday.”
“Of course you have -- this is your 20th.”
“No, I mean a celebration. A party. You know.”
Draco sighed slightly. Yes, he knew. Unlike Harry, who had missed out on nearly all his birthdays, Draco’s own had always been celebrated lavishly with parties for children and dances for their parents. His father had never been one to miss an opportunity to show off. “I did think about a real party. Cake, music, dancing.”
“I’m glad you didn’t. This has been perfect.” Harry turned towards him, leaning back against the polished wooden handrail, which ran at waist height around the glass capsule. “Everything from breakfast this morning to this now. Thank you.” He gave an innocent little smile before turning back to the view.
Draco’s stomach flipped at the look and he closed his eyes, exhaling a long contented breath.
Standing on the opposite side of the capsule, Draco was happy to watch the slight figure take in the view of the London skyline as the London Eye turned yet another circle on its never-ending ride through the still July air. Harry looked elegant today in his new designer clothes, just casual enough to suit the mood of the day, but smart enough for Draco to take him anywhere. He had to admit to taking a strange delight in dressing Harry’s 5ft 6in frame. Harry had once told him he wasn’t some Barbie doll for Draco to play dress-up with, but he never stopped Draco’s efforts at finding just the right outfit. Such as today with the dark fitted trousers and summer shirt.
The whole day had taken some planning and this trip on London’s newest attraction had been the most difficult. He had only managed to get the tickets by pulling some strings and calling in a favour. The huge Ferris wheel, which hung out over the River Thames, had a troubled beginning, but was fast becoming one of the hottest tickets for the tourist trade. This trip, which started just as dusk was falling over the capital, was a particular favourite for lovers and die-hard romantics.
Draco wondered which category he came into, and decided at that moment it was definitely both.
He glanced around at the other crowded capsules and noticed that some people were pointing. No doubt thinking there must be someone famous here to warrant their own private flight.
Yes, the trips were called ‘flights’ because the Eye was sponsored by an airline and, Draco smiled, Firebolt International, which was how he got the tickets. The builders of the wheel would never have gotten it to work without the help of the foremost broomstick designers in the world.
And, of course, there was someone famous here. The Boy Who Lived. Still fighting evil. Still striving to make things right.
Draco pushed away from his place by the capsule entrance and walked slowly round the elegant wooden bench that took up about half the floor space. The bottle of Champagne standing on the bench, complete with its stylish ice bucket and twin flutes, remained unopened. The capsule was almost at the top of its loop now and London was spread out before them, a world made silent by the glass surroundings. He could almost imagine they were flying.
Stopping beside Harry, he looked at the other’s face. “What are you thinking?” he finally asked.
“Oh, about how peaceful this is and how nice it’s been.” A hand came out and Draco felt the fingers brush lightly on his back before it returned to the rail. “I wish I could stay here forever. I wish I didn’t have to go away tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to, you know.”
“I do. Voldemort’s people have started killing Muggles. He has to be stopped.”
Draco opened his mouth to respond but decided against it. He wanted to say, ‘And you think you are the only one capable of stopping him’, but he bit back the retort. They’d had the same argument so many times in the past and he wasn’t going to risk spoiling the moment now. Voldemort had forced them apart too much already.
“I have something for you.”
“More presents?”
Green eye turned to him with an eagerness more suited to a person half Harry’s age. Draco found it strangely endearing. When Harry had finally told him of his childhood with the Dursleys, Draco had been shocked at their cruelty. And equality perturbed at how his own actions had added to Harry’s torment. Still, he had put the fear of God into both Vernon and Petunia now, and one day they would pay for what they had done to Harry.
It amazed Draco that Harry still found it difficult to accept people wanted to buy him things and to do nice things for him. He knew that his lover would be just as happy with a Chocolate Frog now as anything. He reached out a hand and brushed at Harry’s hair. Harry leaned into the gesture and his lips touched Draco’s wrist
“It’s not really a present.” There was a hitch in Draco’s voice as he spoke. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small box and handed it to Harry. The lid was quickly removed. Inside was a very thin silver chain.
Harry pulled the chain from the box and held it between his fingers. It swung lazily before him, the light catching the small disc of rose quartz that hung from the bottom. Taking the disc in his free hand, Harry studied the tiny symbols engraved meticulously on its surface. “This is your work.” It was a statement, not a question, Harry always recognised Draco’s magical work. “It’s lovely. What is it?”
“It’s a protection charm.” Draco chewed at his bottom lip for a moment. “And it will let me know if you are okay. I worry when you aren’t here.”
“And you don’t think I worry about you?” The green eyes flashed with a touch of annoyance, and Draco knew this was yet another subject of contention between them -- Harry’s safety. “I’m not the only one who’s out there fighting the bad guys.”
“This is different and you know it.”
“Oh? And you giving up everything to be with me doesn’t count? If your father got hold of you now...”
“But he won’t.” The voice was soft, calming. “And besides I don’t care as long as I have you. You do know that don’t you.” The hand returned to rest lightly on Harry’s neck. “Harry, you are the most important thing in the world to me. I would be lost without you. I nearly was lost until you found me and brought me back from him, from that Darkness.” Draco suddenly gathered Harry into his arms, holding him so tightly that it was hard for him to breath. The dark head nestled against his shoulder and Draco hand moved slowly from Harry’s back to rest against the hair. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“You know I will.”
The words reverberated against Draco’s chest and he suddenly tilted the head upwards, needing to see the face. He was taller than Harry now by several inches and had to bend slightly to capture the lips in a gentle kiss. It was not a great kiss, there was no passion, or excitement in it, but it conveyed something much more profound to them both. It was about belonging and trust.
When Draco pulled back, Harry was smiling. “What would I do without you?” This time it was Harry’s hand touching Draco’s face.
“Well, probably have less dress sense for one thing. Will you wear this for me?” Draco took the chain from Harry’s fingers. “Please.”
“Of course, I will. Do you really need to ask? But I worry too. I want to know you’re okay. Will you make one for yourself?”
Placing the chain around Harry’s neck, Draco slipped the sliver of rose quartz inside Harry’s shirt before resting a hand over the place it lay. For a second Draco was aware of warmth coming both from the crystal and his own hand. He could sense the magical connection joining the charm to himself and Harry. “I can’t make one for myself. You’ll have to do it when you’re next home.”
“How?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll teach you.”
“Do we have much longer on here?”
“Well, we could go round again if you want.”
Harry smiled and turned back to face the rail. “I’d like that.”
Draco stepped behind Harry and placed his arms round the other’s shoulder. They draped down, hand’s resting lightly over Harry’s heart. He felt Harry lean back and he gratefully accepted the slight weight against himself as he rested a cheek against the dark hair.
Together they watched the lights as night settled across the city, content in their own safe world for the moment.
-----------------------