Birthday!gift: Memories of Hemlock
Title: Memories of Hemlock
Author: enchanted_jae
Pairing: Harry, Draco
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Mild angst
Word count: 795
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This was written for fun, not for profit.
Author's note: Written as a birthday gift for scotlandaussie, who asked for hurt/comfort.
Summary: Harry offers Draco comfort.
As Harry made his way through the halls of the Ministry on Monday morning, there was a spring in his step. Most people hated Mondays, but Harry was eager to see his partner. In the months since he and Draco Malfoy had been assigned to work together, Harry had found himself growing ever more attracted to his former rival. They had begun their stint as partners by arguing and sniping at one another, much like their childhood, but they had gradually begun to develop a grudging respect for one another. Harry had no idea when the subtle flirting had begun, but he had been enjoying it; thus, the reason he was anxious to see Draco once more.
When Harry sauntered into their office, he drew up short at the expression on Draco's face. "What's wrong?" he asked. "You look like you just lost your best friend."
Draco glared up at him through red-rimmed eyes. "My crup died this weekend."
Harry cringed. "I'm sorry, Malfoy," he said. "I didn't mean-"
"Spare me," Draco interrupted.
Harry crossed the small room and sat at his desk, putting himself at eye-level with his partner. "I really am sorry to hear that," he tried again. "I know you've had your crup for years."
"Sixteen," mumbled Draco. "My parents gave him to me before I left for Hogwarts my First Year."
"It's been ten years since I lost Hedwig," Harry mused softly, "and I still miss her."
"You never replaced her, did you?"
Harry shook his head. "She was irreplaceable."
"What happened to her?" Draco asked. "I don't recall you mentioning your owl before."
Harry's mouth drew down in a frown. "She was killed by Death Eaters," he said tersely. "She blocked a curse meant for me."
"I never knew that," mused Draco. "And here I thought the Prophet had covered all the angles of the War."
"Only the sensational ones," Harry snorted.
Draco nodded in agreement before commenting, "Hemlock, my crup, he was just old."
"Did he ever save your life?" Harry asked, leaning back with an affable smile. His tone was curious, not mocking.
Draco chuckled. "He once saved me from Mother's odious peacocks."
"Not the Killer Peacocks of Doom?!" Harry gasped in feigned shock.
"Shush," Draco scolded before continuing. "I used to chase the silly blighters as a child. One day when I ran at them, I didn't realize they had new chicks. They flew at me, and one even raked my forehead with its talons. Hemlock came to my rescue and chased them off."
"I have no trouble imagining that," stated Harry.
"That my brave crup saved me?"
"No, that you were enough of a prat to chase the poor peacocks."
Draco shook his head and chuckled. "You're such a git."
"What do you say we get out of here and go for breakfast?" Harry suggested. "I'll treat."
Draco hesitated, but only for a moment before he nodded his agreement.
~*~
As partners, Harry and Draco often had lunch together and they had even gone for dinner on occasion. Harry tended to flirt a little more aggressively when they were away from the Ministry, even going so far as to initiate casual contact. He found himself unable to resist touching Draco. At first, Draco used to twitch away immediately when Harry clapped a hand on his shoulder or touched his wrist. Gradually, he had begun to allow contact for longer periods before shying away or withdrawing. Harry considered it progress, and he continued his subtle pursuit of his partner at every opportunity.
Today, however, Harry kept his hands to himself. Draco was still grieving the death of his pet, and he didn't seem inclined to welcome any intimacy, no matter how casual. When they were seated, Draco insisted he only wanted tea and toast. Harry winced in sympathy; he remembered how it had felt to lose Hedwig. Once their food arrived, they engaged in small talk while they ate, discussing a current case they were working on. Harry thought he was doing a good job of distracting his partner until a woman came striding down the pavement outside the cafe, a young pup capering ahead of her on its leash.
Draco gazed after the pair, his eyes darkening with pain and longing.
"If I could fix it with the flick of a wand or kiss it and make it better, I would," Harry told him softly. He reached to cover Draco's hand with his in a gesture of comfort.
Draco's attention moved to Harry once more, and he smiled tentatively. Turning his hand, Draco pressed his palm to Harry's and linked their fingers.
Author: enchanted_jae
Pairing: Harry, Draco
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Mild angst
Word count: 795
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This was written for fun, not for profit.
Author's note: Written as a birthday gift for scotlandaussie, who asked for hurt/comfort.
Summary: Harry offers Draco comfort.
As Harry made his way through the halls of the Ministry on Monday morning, there was a spring in his step. Most people hated Mondays, but Harry was eager to see his partner. In the months since he and Draco Malfoy had been assigned to work together, Harry had found himself growing ever more attracted to his former rival. They had begun their stint as partners by arguing and sniping at one another, much like their childhood, but they had gradually begun to develop a grudging respect for one another. Harry had no idea when the subtle flirting had begun, but he had been enjoying it; thus, the reason he was anxious to see Draco once more.
When Harry sauntered into their office, he drew up short at the expression on Draco's face. "What's wrong?" he asked. "You look like you just lost your best friend."
Draco glared up at him through red-rimmed eyes. "My crup died this weekend."
Harry cringed. "I'm sorry, Malfoy," he said. "I didn't mean-"
"Spare me," Draco interrupted.
Harry crossed the small room and sat at his desk, putting himself at eye-level with his partner. "I really am sorry to hear that," he tried again. "I know you've had your crup for years."
"Sixteen," mumbled Draco. "My parents gave him to me before I left for Hogwarts my First Year."
"It's been ten years since I lost Hedwig," Harry mused softly, "and I still miss her."
"You never replaced her, did you?"
Harry shook his head. "She was irreplaceable."
"What happened to her?" Draco asked. "I don't recall you mentioning your owl before."
Harry's mouth drew down in a frown. "She was killed by Death Eaters," he said tersely. "She blocked a curse meant for me."
"I never knew that," mused Draco. "And here I thought the Prophet had covered all the angles of the War."
"Only the sensational ones," Harry snorted.
Draco nodded in agreement before commenting, "Hemlock, my crup, he was just old."
"Did he ever save your life?" Harry asked, leaning back with an affable smile. His tone was curious, not mocking.
Draco chuckled. "He once saved me from Mother's odious peacocks."
"Not the Killer Peacocks of Doom?!" Harry gasped in feigned shock.
"Shush," Draco scolded before continuing. "I used to chase the silly blighters as a child. One day when I ran at them, I didn't realize they had new chicks. They flew at me, and one even raked my forehead with its talons. Hemlock came to my rescue and chased them off."
"I have no trouble imagining that," stated Harry.
"That my brave crup saved me?"
"No, that you were enough of a prat to chase the poor peacocks."
Draco shook his head and chuckled. "You're such a git."
"What do you say we get out of here and go for breakfast?" Harry suggested. "I'll treat."
Draco hesitated, but only for a moment before he nodded his agreement.
~*~
As partners, Harry and Draco often had lunch together and they had even gone for dinner on occasion. Harry tended to flirt a little more aggressively when they were away from the Ministry, even going so far as to initiate casual contact. He found himself unable to resist touching Draco. At first, Draco used to twitch away immediately when Harry clapped a hand on his shoulder or touched his wrist. Gradually, he had begun to allow contact for longer periods before shying away or withdrawing. Harry considered it progress, and he continued his subtle pursuit of his partner at every opportunity.
Today, however, Harry kept his hands to himself. Draco was still grieving the death of his pet, and he didn't seem inclined to welcome any intimacy, no matter how casual. When they were seated, Draco insisted he only wanted tea and toast. Harry winced in sympathy; he remembered how it had felt to lose Hedwig. Once their food arrived, they engaged in small talk while they ate, discussing a current case they were working on. Harry thought he was doing a good job of distracting his partner until a woman came striding down the pavement outside the cafe, a young pup capering ahead of her on its leash.
Draco gazed after the pair, his eyes darkening with pain and longing.
"If I could fix it with the flick of a wand or kiss it and make it better, I would," Harry told him softly. He reached to cover Draco's hand with his in a gesture of comfort.
Draco's attention moved to Harry once more, and he smiled tentatively. Turning his hand, Draco pressed his palm to Harry's and linked their fingers.