Harry/Draco - Starting Anew - One Shot - PG-13
Title: Starting Anew
Author: screaminglungs
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Word Count: 2337
Summary: Life is forever changing and Harry Potter's life is no exception.
Author's Note: Beta read by the lovely kcstories
Spoilers for DH if you squint
Harry wandered through his family’s home, which for once was eerily quiet. He walked from room to room, looking for something to do and kept coming up short. There was no child to run after and make sure she’d eaten her breakfast, brushed her teeth and washed her face. Just silence.
For the first time since his school days he wished that he didn’t have Dobby around because despite his age, the House Elf remained ever efficient. There was literally nothing for Harry to do. The dishes had been washed, the laundry had been put away and the sheets had been changed. He was for the first time in eleven years left completely alone.
He couldn’t help but think of Ginny at times like these; when life was changing for him; and he wondered what life would have been like now if she were still here.
No doubt there would probably have been hoards more children running about the house, making him wish for the kind of silence he was so uncomfortable with at that moment. That always made him smile. There was always the possibility that they wouldn’t have even stayed together, and he’d be living somewhere else, with someone else in his life. There were so many whats, ifs and buts about his past and he had learned long ago not to spend too much time dwelling upon them, for the sake of his own sanity.
Harry chose Bryony’s room in which to stop his roaming and sat down heavily upon his daughter’s bed. He stared aimlessly around the little girl’s room and was embarrassed to find his eyes stinging with tears. She’d only been gone twenty-four hours and he was already a mess. How was he going to cope for the next seven years? How was he going to cope for the rest of his life?
Hermione and Ron were married right after what would have been their seventh year at Hogwarts, which they had actually spent getting rid of Snakeface. Being a year behind had put a strain on Harry and Ginny’s relationship, but during her seventh year, they had spent as much time together as possible, spending afternoons snuggled together in Harry’s bedroom during Hogsmeade weekends after he had decided to rent a house in the village.
Bryony had been a mistake. Harry hated the way that sounded, but it was true and she had been born to two incredibly scared young parents the January after Ginny’s seventh year. Ginny had seemed fine for a little while, but after the birth she was incredibly weak and didn’t seem to be getting any stronger no matter what anyone did. She had died two days later, leaving Harry a single father at nineteen.
The thought of his own child growing up so quickly filled his stomach with led and he drew in a ragged breath. He so wanted to protect her from everything bad in life but how could he do that when she was living miles away?
Irrational thoughts filled his head. What if Bryony didn’t want to come home during the holidays? What if she didn’t write? What if he never saw her again? He was breathing heavily as he slumped back across her bed. He had to calm down or he wouldn’t be able to go on without her.
She was the only family he had, the only family he had ever had, and he was frankly surprised that he’d let her go at all.
“Harry? Are you there?”
Harry sat upright too quickly and winced at the ensuing dizziness.
“I’m up here!” he shouted and slumped back down to wait out the woozy spell. He listened to the footsteps growing ever closer and, considering he had a visitor, he thought he had better move but he couldn’t find the energy within himself to do so.
“Potter honestly, you can’t sit around here moping over her all day.”
Harry would have rolled his eyes, but instead he simply grunted.
“I’ve been sent over here by a certain frizzy haired witch to make sure you’ve not tried to top yourself.” Draco Malfoy sighed wearily and slumped down onto the small bed next to Harry, who looked like a rather pathetic excuse for a thirty-one year old man.
“I’m not going to top myself, and I’m not moping!” Harry snapped back at the blonde and continued to stare at the ceiling.
“Then why in Merlin’s name are you sitting up here, staring at the ceiling at 11am on a Thursday morning?”
“Because I don’t have anything better to do,” Harry grumbled.
“How about coming out with me for coffee; that’s got to be better than lying across this disgustingly pink bed all day?” Draco grimaced as he examined the floral bed linen.
“What’s in it for me?”
Draco grinned. Harry always asked that.
“All the caffeine you can consume and my wonderful company; how does that sound?”
“Throw in a muffin and we’ve got a deal.” Harry sighed and slowly sat up next to Draco and gave him a lopsided grin, which for the sake of his poor heart, Draco attempted to ignore.
After Harry had returned his wand to Draco almost twelve years ago, the two school enemies bumped into one another frequently and eventually sat down for coffee, they realised that they were able to look past what had happened between them. They spent a great deal of time talking about nothing in particular, and pointedly ignoring the issue of the war and soon it became a common occurrence. Harry looked forward to his bi-weekly meetings with Draco. They gave him a break from his worries, and were especially helpful when Ginny fell pregnant. He had someone he could tell how absolutely terrified he was without being judged for it.
When Bryony was born things changed again and Draco began bringing Harry’s coffee with him to the house he now lived in at Godric’s Hollow. Often, Draco would find Harry asleep, curled up on the sofa with the child asleep in a Moses basket on the floor next to him. Sometimes he would arrive to find Bryony crying and Harry sitting next to her sobbing.
Over the years, their friendship had gotten stronger and Draco found he even got along with Granger and Weasley. Despite their differences, Draco found out, much to his dismay, that they did have one important thing in common; they cared about Harry.
The two friends wandered along the Southbank, Harry attempting to eat his muffin and sip his large cappuccino as they walked and Draco laughing at him.
“Did she get off okay?”
“Yeah, it was me holding onto her! She kept saying, ‘get off of me, Dad. I’ll be fine’ but it wasn’t her I was worried about, to be honest.” Harry sighed and bit once more into his muffin.
“Harry Potter, I am ashamed to call you my friend, let alone our world’s Saviour! Of course you’ll be alright; it’s just a matter of finding your life again, one which doesn’t revolve around your daughter!”
“What do you suggest, Draco? The only life I’ve ever had has revolved around that girl and her mother; before that, I had no life, or do you not remember that?” Harry snapped and Draco sighed heavily as the dark haired man stalked off towards the wall along the Thames. Draco waited a moment before following him.
“Harry, I’m sorry. You know there was nothing in what I said; I was just joshing you.” Draco placed a tentative hand on Harry’s shoulder and followed his green gaze into the dark choppy water below.
“Yeah, sorry I snapped. I’m just a little frazzled at the moment.”
“No need to apologise. Things are definitely strange. I can’t begin to imagine what you’re going through.” Draco sighed and nudged his shoulder against Harry’s who finally looked up and met his gaze, smiling sheepishly.
“The fact that you put up with me means a lot. Who’d have thought twenty years ago we’d be standing here together? I am sorry I snapped. What did you have in mind?” They had begun walking again and Harry was once again taking obscenely large bites from his muffin.
“Let’s go out tonight, to a bar or a club, anything!”
“You must be joking!” Harry spluttered.
“Why would I joke?” Draco looked mock affronted.
“I’m thirty, not eighteen. You, Draco Malfoy, would have me out in some see-through top and leather trousers. I know what you get up to in those clubs!”
“You’re mad. I wouldn’t be seen dead in leather trousers and a see through top! Potter, do you not know me at all?”
“Well, you get my point! I’m not a kid. I’m not going prancing ‘round London until all hours just so you’d have some company until you’ve pulled.” Harry snorted. Draco had told him about all the men he’d been with over the years and he certainly didn’t want to witness Draco in action. In fact, the very idea made his stomach clench.
“Give me some credit. I’m asking you come out and have some fun, not on the pull. Heaven forbid you’d actually look for someone to live your life with!” Draco snapped. He hadn’t meant to, but he didn’t like the idea that Harry thought him to be promiscuous when he’d only told Harry about all those men in a vain attempt to make him jealous. How silly he’d been.
“How can you say that to me?”
Draco hadn’t noticed that Harry had stopped walking again until he heard his choked voice from several steps behind him. He reluctantly turned and met a stormy expression.
“I’m sorry, alright! I’m just trying to help and you’re being frustrating. I stupidly thought that once Bry’ was gone to school there might be a chance…oh forget it…” Harry’s shuttered expression made the usually articulate Draco trip over his words and he turned around and carried on walking; hoping that Harry might go home, but instead he heard hurried footsteps behind him, short legs attempting to catch up with his long strides.
“What did you mean about something happening when Bryony had gone to school?” Harry panted as he caught up with him; he wasn’t as fit as he’d once been.
“Forget it,” Draco snapped and carried on walking, picking up his speed until he felt a small, long fingered hand wrap itself around his wrist and roughly turn him around.
“No, I won’t forget it! Explain, what did you mean?” Harry growled.
“I meant something between us, Harry, alright? I’ve been there for you all these years, through Ginny dying and everything with Bryony, who I practically consider to be my own kid sometimes, and I finally thought that after all these years I’d have you to myself!”
“Us?” Harry looked bewildered and possibly a bit disgusted; Draco knew he should never have brought this up.
“Yes, us. I’m in love with you, you complete moron!” Draco snarled. He was ashamed and lashing out. He felt vulnerable after his admission and complete display of weakness in front of someone else, even if he had known Harry for two thirds of his life in some capacity.
“What?”
“You heard me, Potter. Now let go of my wrist so I can get out of here and stop humiliating myself.” Draco tugged his wrist but Harry only held on tighter.
“You really think of Bryony as your kid?”
Draco blushed. “She’s a good kid,” he replied softly.
“Why have you never said anything?”
“I just told you,” Draco snapped.
“It’s been years since Gin died.” Harry seemed to be working things out in his head.
“Yeah, I know.” Draco sighed softly.
“All this time?”
“Yes.” Draco tugged at his wrist again, desperate to get away.
“Merlin Draco, if you’d just said,” Harry whispered and tugged on Draco’s wrist until he looked up at him. The look they shared was intense.
“I could have humiliated myself earlier?”
“No, you prat. I could have done this earlier.” Harry was suddenly right there pressed against him. His glasses were pressing into Draco’s cheek and the two men bumped noses before Harry sealed his lips over Draco’s. The hand that had been around his wrist was suddenly travelling up his arm and into his hair. Harry pressed against him more forcefully and sucked his lower lip into his mouth, making Draco moan. Harry pulled back a moment later and stared into Draco’s suddenly foggy grey eyes.
“Fuck Harry, since when did you go around kissing blokes on river banks?” Draco sighed and pressed his forehead against Harry’s, staring into his eyes.
“Since never. I only want you! Ever since Bryony was six and she was sick and I didn’t know what to do so I floo-called you and you were on your way out to some hot date with that accountant bloke, but you dropped everything and came over and hugged me and told me everything would be alright. I don’t remember feeling safer in my life. You’ve been there for me whenever I needed you for the last ten years and I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Harry pressed his lips against Draco’s once more, smiling into the kiss as Draco kissed back.
“Gods Harry, I love you.” Draco sighed as their second kiss broke. “You and Bryony are my family. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d sent me away just now.” Draco shivered, whether from the breeze off the river or because of the thought of Harry not talking to him anymore, Harry didn’t know.
“Never. Never. I would never send you away.” Harry held Draco’s face between his hands and peppered kisses across it making Draco laugh; light happy laughter Harry didn’t think he’d heard before.
“Let’s go home, Potter. I suddenly don’t feel like going out tonight.” Draco grinned wolfishly at the shorter man who blushed. Wrapping his arms around Harry, Draco side-longed them away, leaving some startled Muggles in their wake.
Author: screaminglungs
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Word Count: 2337
Summary: Life is forever changing and Harry Potter's life is no exception.
Author's Note: Beta read by the lovely kcstories
Spoilers for DH if you squint
Harry wandered through his family’s home, which for once was eerily quiet. He walked from room to room, looking for something to do and kept coming up short. There was no child to run after and make sure she’d eaten her breakfast, brushed her teeth and washed her face. Just silence.
For the first time since his school days he wished that he didn’t have Dobby around because despite his age, the House Elf remained ever efficient. There was literally nothing for Harry to do. The dishes had been washed, the laundry had been put away and the sheets had been changed. He was for the first time in eleven years left completely alone.
He couldn’t help but think of Ginny at times like these; when life was changing for him; and he wondered what life would have been like now if she were still here.
No doubt there would probably have been hoards more children running about the house, making him wish for the kind of silence he was so uncomfortable with at that moment. That always made him smile. There was always the possibility that they wouldn’t have even stayed together, and he’d be living somewhere else, with someone else in his life. There were so many whats, ifs and buts about his past and he had learned long ago not to spend too much time dwelling upon them, for the sake of his own sanity.
Harry chose Bryony’s room in which to stop his roaming and sat down heavily upon his daughter’s bed. He stared aimlessly around the little girl’s room and was embarrassed to find his eyes stinging with tears. She’d only been gone twenty-four hours and he was already a mess. How was he going to cope for the next seven years? How was he going to cope for the rest of his life?
Hermione and Ron were married right after what would have been their seventh year at Hogwarts, which they had actually spent getting rid of Snakeface. Being a year behind had put a strain on Harry and Ginny’s relationship, but during her seventh year, they had spent as much time together as possible, spending afternoons snuggled together in Harry’s bedroom during Hogsmeade weekends after he had decided to rent a house in the village.
Bryony had been a mistake. Harry hated the way that sounded, but it was true and she had been born to two incredibly scared young parents the January after Ginny’s seventh year. Ginny had seemed fine for a little while, but after the birth she was incredibly weak and didn’t seem to be getting any stronger no matter what anyone did. She had died two days later, leaving Harry a single father at nineteen.
The thought of his own child growing up so quickly filled his stomach with led and he drew in a ragged breath. He so wanted to protect her from everything bad in life but how could he do that when she was living miles away?
Irrational thoughts filled his head. What if Bryony didn’t want to come home during the holidays? What if she didn’t write? What if he never saw her again? He was breathing heavily as he slumped back across her bed. He had to calm down or he wouldn’t be able to go on without her.
She was the only family he had, the only family he had ever had, and he was frankly surprised that he’d let her go at all.
“Harry? Are you there?”
Harry sat upright too quickly and winced at the ensuing dizziness.
“I’m up here!” he shouted and slumped back down to wait out the woozy spell. He listened to the footsteps growing ever closer and, considering he had a visitor, he thought he had better move but he couldn’t find the energy within himself to do so.
“Potter honestly, you can’t sit around here moping over her all day.”
Harry would have rolled his eyes, but instead he simply grunted.
“I’ve been sent over here by a certain frizzy haired witch to make sure you’ve not tried to top yourself.” Draco Malfoy sighed wearily and slumped down onto the small bed next to Harry, who looked like a rather pathetic excuse for a thirty-one year old man.
“I’m not going to top myself, and I’m not moping!” Harry snapped back at the blonde and continued to stare at the ceiling.
“Then why in Merlin’s name are you sitting up here, staring at the ceiling at 11am on a Thursday morning?”
“Because I don’t have anything better to do,” Harry grumbled.
“How about coming out with me for coffee; that’s got to be better than lying across this disgustingly pink bed all day?” Draco grimaced as he examined the floral bed linen.
“What’s in it for me?”
Draco grinned. Harry always asked that.
“All the caffeine you can consume and my wonderful company; how does that sound?”
“Throw in a muffin and we’ve got a deal.” Harry sighed and slowly sat up next to Draco and gave him a lopsided grin, which for the sake of his poor heart, Draco attempted to ignore.
After Harry had returned his wand to Draco almost twelve years ago, the two school enemies bumped into one another frequently and eventually sat down for coffee, they realised that they were able to look past what had happened between them. They spent a great deal of time talking about nothing in particular, and pointedly ignoring the issue of the war and soon it became a common occurrence. Harry looked forward to his bi-weekly meetings with Draco. They gave him a break from his worries, and were especially helpful when Ginny fell pregnant. He had someone he could tell how absolutely terrified he was without being judged for it.
When Bryony was born things changed again and Draco began bringing Harry’s coffee with him to the house he now lived in at Godric’s Hollow. Often, Draco would find Harry asleep, curled up on the sofa with the child asleep in a Moses basket on the floor next to him. Sometimes he would arrive to find Bryony crying and Harry sitting next to her sobbing.
Over the years, their friendship had gotten stronger and Draco found he even got along with Granger and Weasley. Despite their differences, Draco found out, much to his dismay, that they did have one important thing in common; they cared about Harry.
The two friends wandered along the Southbank, Harry attempting to eat his muffin and sip his large cappuccino as they walked and Draco laughing at him.
“Did she get off okay?”
“Yeah, it was me holding onto her! She kept saying, ‘get off of me, Dad. I’ll be fine’ but it wasn’t her I was worried about, to be honest.” Harry sighed and bit once more into his muffin.
“Harry Potter, I am ashamed to call you my friend, let alone our world’s Saviour! Of course you’ll be alright; it’s just a matter of finding your life again, one which doesn’t revolve around your daughter!”
“What do you suggest, Draco? The only life I’ve ever had has revolved around that girl and her mother; before that, I had no life, or do you not remember that?” Harry snapped and Draco sighed heavily as the dark haired man stalked off towards the wall along the Thames. Draco waited a moment before following him.
“Harry, I’m sorry. You know there was nothing in what I said; I was just joshing you.” Draco placed a tentative hand on Harry’s shoulder and followed his green gaze into the dark choppy water below.
“Yeah, sorry I snapped. I’m just a little frazzled at the moment.”
“No need to apologise. Things are definitely strange. I can’t begin to imagine what you’re going through.” Draco sighed and nudged his shoulder against Harry’s who finally looked up and met his gaze, smiling sheepishly.
“The fact that you put up with me means a lot. Who’d have thought twenty years ago we’d be standing here together? I am sorry I snapped. What did you have in mind?” They had begun walking again and Harry was once again taking obscenely large bites from his muffin.
“Let’s go out tonight, to a bar or a club, anything!”
“You must be joking!” Harry spluttered.
“Why would I joke?” Draco looked mock affronted.
“I’m thirty, not eighteen. You, Draco Malfoy, would have me out in some see-through top and leather trousers. I know what you get up to in those clubs!”
“You’re mad. I wouldn’t be seen dead in leather trousers and a see through top! Potter, do you not know me at all?”
“Well, you get my point! I’m not a kid. I’m not going prancing ‘round London until all hours just so you’d have some company until you’ve pulled.” Harry snorted. Draco had told him about all the men he’d been with over the years and he certainly didn’t want to witness Draco in action. In fact, the very idea made his stomach clench.
“Give me some credit. I’m asking you come out and have some fun, not on the pull. Heaven forbid you’d actually look for someone to live your life with!” Draco snapped. He hadn’t meant to, but he didn’t like the idea that Harry thought him to be promiscuous when he’d only told Harry about all those men in a vain attempt to make him jealous. How silly he’d been.
“How can you say that to me?”
Draco hadn’t noticed that Harry had stopped walking again until he heard his choked voice from several steps behind him. He reluctantly turned and met a stormy expression.
“I’m sorry, alright! I’m just trying to help and you’re being frustrating. I stupidly thought that once Bry’ was gone to school there might be a chance…oh forget it…” Harry’s shuttered expression made the usually articulate Draco trip over his words and he turned around and carried on walking; hoping that Harry might go home, but instead he heard hurried footsteps behind him, short legs attempting to catch up with his long strides.
“What did you mean about something happening when Bryony had gone to school?” Harry panted as he caught up with him; he wasn’t as fit as he’d once been.
“Forget it,” Draco snapped and carried on walking, picking up his speed until he felt a small, long fingered hand wrap itself around his wrist and roughly turn him around.
“No, I won’t forget it! Explain, what did you mean?” Harry growled.
“I meant something between us, Harry, alright? I’ve been there for you all these years, through Ginny dying and everything with Bryony, who I practically consider to be my own kid sometimes, and I finally thought that after all these years I’d have you to myself!”
“Us?” Harry looked bewildered and possibly a bit disgusted; Draco knew he should never have brought this up.
“Yes, us. I’m in love with you, you complete moron!” Draco snarled. He was ashamed and lashing out. He felt vulnerable after his admission and complete display of weakness in front of someone else, even if he had known Harry for two thirds of his life in some capacity.
“What?”
“You heard me, Potter. Now let go of my wrist so I can get out of here and stop humiliating myself.” Draco tugged his wrist but Harry only held on tighter.
“You really think of Bryony as your kid?”
Draco blushed. “She’s a good kid,” he replied softly.
“Why have you never said anything?”
“I just told you,” Draco snapped.
“It’s been years since Gin died.” Harry seemed to be working things out in his head.
“Yeah, I know.” Draco sighed softly.
“All this time?”
“Yes.” Draco tugged at his wrist again, desperate to get away.
“Merlin Draco, if you’d just said,” Harry whispered and tugged on Draco’s wrist until he looked up at him. The look they shared was intense.
“I could have humiliated myself earlier?”
“No, you prat. I could have done this earlier.” Harry was suddenly right there pressed against him. His glasses were pressing into Draco’s cheek and the two men bumped noses before Harry sealed his lips over Draco’s. The hand that had been around his wrist was suddenly travelling up his arm and into his hair. Harry pressed against him more forcefully and sucked his lower lip into his mouth, making Draco moan. Harry pulled back a moment later and stared into Draco’s suddenly foggy grey eyes.
“Fuck Harry, since when did you go around kissing blokes on river banks?” Draco sighed and pressed his forehead against Harry’s, staring into his eyes.
“Since never. I only want you! Ever since Bryony was six and she was sick and I didn’t know what to do so I floo-called you and you were on your way out to some hot date with that accountant bloke, but you dropped everything and came over and hugged me and told me everything would be alright. I don’t remember feeling safer in my life. You’ve been there for me whenever I needed you for the last ten years and I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Harry pressed his lips against Draco’s once more, smiling into the kiss as Draco kissed back.
“Gods Harry, I love you.” Draco sighed as their second kiss broke. “You and Bryony are my family. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d sent me away just now.” Draco shivered, whether from the breeze off the river or because of the thought of Harry not talking to him anymore, Harry didn’t know.
“Never. Never. I would never send you away.” Harry held Draco’s face between his hands and peppered kisses across it making Draco laugh; light happy laughter Harry didn’t think he’d heard before.
“Let’s go home, Potter. I suddenly don’t feel like going out tonight.” Draco grinned wolfishly at the shorter man who blushed. Wrapping his arms around Harry, Draco side-longed them away, leaving some startled Muggles in their wake.