Cock and Bull 25
Banner by herumtreiber
Title: Cock and Bull 25
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Harry/Draco, omc
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 785
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for: Birthday gift for paigeey07, who said I could write anything...except Dumbledore/Filch porn. Hah!
Summary: Harry is scheming ahead.
In an effort to entice Draco to stay on once his community payback was complete, Harry embraced his inner Slytherin. He sent Draco off with Maude and the wagon to run an errand for Mrs Pempelton, while Harry invited Horace Breedlove to visit. After the obligatory small talk, Harry got to the point.
"I am thinking of crossing a Jersey with a beltie, in hopes of getting a belted heifer calf."
Horace leaned back in the kitchen chair and rubbed his bristled chin. "You lookin' to get a milk cow out of the mix?"
Harry nodded.
Horace paused for a sip of the coffee Harry had served and pondered some more. "I'm not the best person to ask about crossbreeds," he said.
"But, you know Jerseys," said Harry.
"If yer lookin' for a belted milk cow, there's a breed called Dutch belted," Horace mused. "They're mostly black and white, but some are red and white. They're a scarce breed, and cows aren't crossbred. O'course, bulls can be, typically using AI."
Harry drummed his fingers on the table as he considered it. "So, no one will sell me a Dutch belted cow if I plan to put her with my Jersey bull?"
"Doubtful, Potter."
"If we could cross a Jersey to a Dutch bull-"
"Ye might be better off crossin' a Devon to a Dutch," Horace interjected. "The person you should be speakin' to on the matter is Funkhouser."
"Burt?"
"No, Bert," Horace corrected. "He raises them Highland cattle, and he has contacts among others who raise heritage breeds, like the Dutch milkers."
"That's an excellent suggestion," said Harry. He glanced toward the window when he heard Maude's whinnying hee-haw as Draco returned with the wagon. "Listen," Harry said to Horace. "I don't want Malfoy to know about this. He'd have Devons and Dutches and Texas Longhorns in here if he could."
Horace laughed and slapped his thigh. "Sounds like Heidi and her fancy chickens."
"Oh god, don't get him started on fancy chickens, either," begged Harry.
A few minutes later, the front door slammed as Draco came bursting into the house. "Harry!" he called. "You have an owl..."
Draco's voice trailed off as he skidded into the kitchen and saw they had company. "Oh, hello Mr Breedlove." he turned to Harry. "Ahem, you have an owl...in the barn."
"Oh yes," said Harry. "That owl's been around since I bought the place. I call him Barney. I'm, erm, surprised you didn't notice him before now."
"Ha ha, I reckon I never looked up in the rafters before now," Draco babbled nervously until Harry sent him a quelling glare. He cleared his throat and dropped the subject of owls. "Did you bring by any more of your homemade wine?" he asked, addressing Horace.
"Potter here was jes' askin' about buying a bottle of the dandelion wine," Horace replied, treating Harry to a sly smirk.
Slytherin, thought Harry. Nevertheless, he mustered a smile and said, "That's right. I told Horace how much we enjoyed it, and he has some more for sale."
"Excellent, I'll be in touch, Potter," said Horace, pushing his chair back to stand. "Lemme know what you find out from Bert."
Harry and Draco walked outside with him, where Horace climbed into his truck and drove out.
"How did you not notice the Land Rover?!" Harry cried.
"I left Maude hitched to the wagon in the shed!" Draco exclaimed. "An owl came swooping in with a message for you, and I thought it might be important."
"Okay," Harry sighed. "Get Maude taken care of, and I'll retrieve my message." He followed Draco to the shed, where Maude was impatiently stamping one front hoof. An unfamiliar owl was perched on the side of the wagon. It politely extended its leg to Harry when he reached for it. Harry read the message while Draco unharnessed the mule.
"Huh."
"What is it?" asked Draco.
"It's from Seamus, letting me know he has a couple young dogs ready if I still have buyers for them," Harry replied. "Mrs Gilgenberry wanted one, and so did Howard Threadgill."
"Doesn't he have Dizzy?"
"Dizzy is getting long in the tooth," said Harry. "Threadgill was looking for a good, young dog to help with his livestock."
"Mrs Gilgenberry was keen on getting a dog like Frankie," Draco said.
"Yeah, I'll surprise her with one, but I'd best ring Howard to find out for certain if he still wishes to purchase one of Seamus' dogs."
Draco clipped a lead onto Maude's halter and to lead her out of the shed. He paused to look back at Harry and grin. "Do you reckon Mrs Gilgenberry will give us some more of her homemade bread and honey?"
Cock and Bull 26