Cock and Bull 30
Banner by herumtreiber
Title: Cock and Bull 30
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Harry/Draco, ocs
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 615
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for: ficlet_zone Prompt No. 67 - Ray Charles song titles. I chose Yes Indeed, Just Because, Yesterday
Summary: The menagerie expands.
Harry watched as Draco rode Rusty at a fast trot down the lane. Yesterday, he had begun working with Heidi Breedlove on the basics of halter training a calf. Harry was adamant that Draco get Oakley trained for show. The fact that it got Draco off the property was an added bonus.
Today was the day that Harry's new cow would be delivered. He'd paid a dear price for a young Devon milk cow and an even dearer price to have her bred, via artificial insemination, to a Dutch belted dairy bull. With luck, the resulting offspring would be a belted heifer that Harry could keep and use as leverage to lure Draco into staying on the farm.
Shortly before lunch, Harry heard a truck slow down from the direction of the road and turn into his lane. He emerged from the barn to greet his visitor. A man and a woman hopped down from the cab of the truck to shake Harry's hand. He instructed them to back the trailer right up to the gate in the pasture, where his small herd of Jerseys and one Ayrshire were pressed up against the fence to observe the goings-on.
The woman expertly maneuvered the truck and trailer into position, Harry opened the pasture gate, and the man opened the door of the trailer. A moment passed before a sleek red cow stepped down and bellowed. She was immediately surrounded by Harry's cattle. Harry winced at the inevitable jostling.
"I didn't expected her to have horns," he commented.
"This one's got a decent temperament on her," said the woman. "She won't use her horns unless one of the other cows gets her really riled."
Harry remained tense until the cattle settled down and began grazing peacefully. Once he felt he could relax, Harry paid for his newest acquisition and waved goodbye to the couple who'd delivered her to the farm. Now he had only to wait for Draco's reaction when he returned.
"Harry, there's a strange cow in the pasture."
"Yes, indeed," said Harry. He was busy warming some of his tomato sauce on the cooker.
"She has horns, Harry."
"Scared, Malfoy?"
Draco snorted and headed to the loo to wash up. He returned to the kitchen and began assembling a salad without being asked. "If you got a new cow, that means I can get a new chicken. Or two."
"What?!" squawked Harry. "No, it does not!"
"Too bad," teased Draco. "I already paid Heidi for a pair of hens that lay speckled eggs. Speckled eggs, Harry. I'll need to hitch Joe to the pony cart tomorrow so I can bring my new hens home."
Harry turned away to hide a grin. The more ridiculous hens that Draco added to the flock, the more difficult it would be for him to leave them behind. At least, that was Harry's hope.
"What's her name?"
"How did it go with Heidi?"
They spoke at the same time and then chuckled. Harry responded first. "You can name the new cow, if you like."
"How about Ginny?"
"No."
"She's a ginger, Harry."
"No."
"Scarlett?"
Harry paused to turn the cooker off. "That name, I like."
Draco's brow furrowed. "It doesn't really fit in with Daisy, Susie, Lazy, and Frisky."
"Her name is Lizzie, you forgot Chauncy, Ivy, and Oakley, and we also have a Rocco, Maude, Marigold, Joe, Oscar, and Esther," said Harry. He poured the sauce over a bowl of spaghetti and gave it a stir. "Scarlett will fit right in."
Draco set the bowl of salad on the table. "Why did you get another cow?"
"Just because."
"It's because you like gingers, isn't it?"
"Shut it, Malfoy."
Cock and Bull 31