Chapter Five

They arrived back at Grimmauld Place in the late afternoon. The house was eerily quiet and Draco reckoned that Alexis and Asha had probably gone off to the market for supplies again.

"Are you going to go back tonight?" Draco asked as he watched Potter gather his belongings and head upstairs towards his room.

"Go back?" Potter turned and gave Draco a confused look.

"For the celebrations with the family? For Charlie and Sebastian."

"Oh, no. It's a private affair and I—"

"You witnessed their bonding ceremony, Potter. There isn't anything more private than that."

Potter chuckled. "I know, but sometimes I don't feel the need to involve myself in all their family affairs. No matter what they say, I'm not part of the family. Not really. I was there for Charlie today because, he means the world to me, and I was Best Man at Ron and Hermione's wedding but—"

"Is it because they thought you were going to marry into the family and you didn't?"

Potter laughed again. "I also had believed that I was going to marry into the family, but not in a way one would have thought."

"I don't understand."

Draco always found it odd that his conversations with Potter was always when they'd been standing around awkwardly. They never talked about anything that mattered at the workstation or on the dining table...just standing around...uneasily in his office or on the steps—

"I initially went to Romania when Ginny and I broke up, because I had heard that Charlie was gay. So, I went to visit him. I thought that I dated Ginny, and was best friends with Ron...I knew I liked men more than I liked women, so I went to try to date Charlie."

"You did what?" Draco barked out his question as he tried to not laugh. That sounded absolutely ridiculous, and Draco knew a thing or two about ridiculous.

"I know, it was the stupidest idea I ever had," Potter said, laughing himself. Draco liked the sound of Potter's laugh; he wanted to hear it forever.

"So what happened?" Draco asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

"I met Sebastian. At first, I was jealous. But, I saw the way they were, and I realised that I only was trying to fall in love with Charlie for a personal gain, and that really was a very stupid thing. I didn't know anything about him, he didn't know anything about..." Potter sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "So I began taking interest in Sebastian's work and he taught me. He was the one who gave me—sort of a learning curriculum, where to travel, who to study under. Then I followed my own path and went back to him for another year. Then I met Lena and you know the rest of the story."

Draco nodded. He remembered the words Sebastian had said to him. He's fragile. What did Sebastian really mean? Do they think that they broke Potter's heart?

"Are you still jealous?"

Potter shook his head. "No. Not at all. They are like brothers to me, and I realised that I didn't even find Charlie attractive. I mean, he's attractive, just not my type. And I—" He paused and looked towards the floor. "Anyway, I should get going. I've got some more drawings planned to finish Avi's work off and yours—"

"Potter..."

"I'll see you later, Draco." Potter didn't wait for a response and trudged off towards his room.

Draco, feeling resigned himself, locked himself in his room. He lay on his bed staring at the ceiling for over thirty minutes when he abruptly got up and made his way towards his workstation. If Potter was going to work on designs, then Draco was going to work on his own designs, too!

He searched for a long piece of parchment, paint and a few brushes; he started with what he remembered for his memory. The stag. He was going to finish it, for Potter.

00*-*00

Asha knocked on Draco's door in the evening as he'd barely stepped out of his room. "Mr Potter has requested to get his dinner delivered to his studio, so I wanted to check in with you to see if you wanted me to bring yours up to your room also," she said, and looked around the room at the various pieces of parchments that engulfed the floor. "Has he offered you the apprenticeship?" she asked sounding excited. "Are you going to be tested or something?"

"What? No," Draco answered, confused. "I'm just practicing for my own—project."

"That's good that you find other ways to keep yourself occupied. The first year Avi just sulked around, depressed that no one gave her any attention."

Draco laughed. She wasn't any better at the non-sulking now. "Why is Potter not having dinner downstairs?"

"Not sure. He seems to be in a brooding mood. He's asked me to pack his dinner, and he's going to be in his studio for the rest of the night. He does that sometimes. Claims he likes to just sit in the dark room on his favourite chair and...think."

"I thought he was going to be drawing all day and night?"

"You'll have to ask him. If he wants to sit in his empty room at the shop, that usually means some heavy thinking is involved."

Draco furrowed his brows. Earlier that day, Potter seemed to be fine. He said he was happy and there was nothing brooding about him then.

"So shall I bring your dinner up here, then?" Asha asked, sounding impatient.

"If it's all the same to you, will you please pack the dinner for myself and Potter and I will deliver it to his studio?"

Asha raised an eyebrow and gave Draco a scrutinising look. Draco waited patiently; he was almost ready to jump in and add some sort of an excuse, when Asha shrugged as if she approved of Draco's proposition.

"I suppose it's worth a try. Finally." She gave Draco a knowing look and he again felt like she knew something he didn't and wouldn't share it with him.

"You trust me with the task?" he asked, almost teasing.

She didn't say anything and left the room. Half an hour later, Draco went by the kitchen and Asha had prepared several containers for him to take. Draco went into the cellar and grabbed a bottle of wine before taking the packed dinner bag. He took the Floo to Potter's studio and arrived to a very dark room.

He'd been holding the food, the wine, and the stack of parchments that he worked on in his room, and not much thanks to Draco's balancing skill, the wine bottle slipped.

Potter rose from his chair in alarm. The room was still dark but Draco could make the figure standing there. He was surprised that Potter didn't hear the Floo roar or maybe he'd thought it was Asha.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

"Draco? What are you—I'd asked Asha—"

"I know, but she's busy so I brought you dinner and—" Draco looked at the floor and thankfully the wine bottle hadn't broken, it just rolled around the floor, "—wine."

"Why are you here, Draco?" Potter asked; his tone wasn't entirely angry, but Draco couldn't help but feel the unwelcomeness of it.

"I thought...wait, why is it so dark in here?" Draco knew that Potter kept candles around the room and mumbled the spell to light them. The darkness started to dissipate and Draco turned to look at Potter. He was holding a drink, Firewhisky, Draco reckoned.

"I wanted to show you something I was working on," Draco said as he approached the table near Potter's chair. He chose to ignore the scowl on Potter's face and the half-empty bottle that rested on the floor.

He placed the bag of food and then fetched the wine bottle from the floor. He realised that he hadn't brought any wine glasses but assumed that since Potter was already drinking in his studio, he most likely had extras.

"Why are you here, Draco?" Potter repeated himself; the unsympathetic tone had slightly squandered.

"Told you. Food and the stag."

"The what?" Confusion replaced the scowl that had been resting on Potter's face.

"Last night, I saw the tattoo on your back and realised that it's not finished, and thought maybe I could..." Nervousness enclosed in and Draco realised that he was standing a little too close to Potter. "I have some drawings. Ideas, really."

"When did you draw these?" Potter asked as he placed his glass down and grabbed the parchments of sketches off Draco's hands.

"Today. After we arrived. I was in my room all day and—"

"Today? You drew all of these today?" Potter looked at sketches closely, and Draco couldn't tell if the surprise was a good thing or bad.

"They're rough drafts. I can get better. Maybe a day or two more of practice..."

"These are impressive for just a few hours," Potter said. "You...you must really want the apprenticeship..."

Or, I could just really want your adoration. Draco shook his head, wishing the thought away, and when he looked up at Potter, the scowl was back. Potter obviously took Draco's headshake as something else.

"I just..." Draco paused. "Can I see it?"

"Can you see what?" Potter asked, sounding confused again.

"The tattoo. The stag. I was under the impression that that's your Patronus."

"How do you know that?" Potter's eyes widened.

Draco chuckled. "The Saviour of the wizarding world asks," he said.

"Oh. Right," Potter said. He eyed the containers that Draco had placed on the table. "Asha packed an awful lot of food."

"It's for us. You and I," Draco said. "I hope you don't mind. If you wish to dine alone, then I understand." Draco tried to not look absolutely disappointed. When had he become so taken?

"It's fine, Draco," Potter said and this time his tone was back to being not-angry but still unwelcoming.

"Potter. If I've done something to upset you..."

"You haven't," Potter said. "I'm sorry. I've just got a lot on my mind and I—I like to come here to think."

"Right. So that's a no on viewing the tattoo, then?" Draco couldn't help but ask one more time before being rejected again.

Potter snorted. "You don't give up, do you?"

Draco raised an eyebrow trying to ask: Are you really asking me that?

"Fine," Potter said and he removed his shirt.

Right. Draco was such an idiot. He was already standing too close to Potter and now Potter had gone and taken his shirt off. How was Draco planning to breathe?

Potter turned his back towards Draco, and Draco watched the stag swerve a bit as if it were a drawing on a curtain and a breeze had just passed by. Draco wanted to reach out and touch it. The stag. Potter's skin. He'd never wanted to wrap his arms around another man as badly as he wanted to with Potter at that moment. He cleared his throat, grabbed a few of his sketches, and compared them to the tattoo on Potter's back.

"Right," he said and then used that as an excuse to trace the lining of the animal with his finger. The stag moved again.

"What does it feel like?" Draco asked. He had asked the question before, the first day Potter had started to tattoo the phoenix on him, and even before that. He'd work on the bird and the flames for a while, but he still had not spelled it to life.

Draco wasn't sure what Potter was waiting for.

"Sort of like a gentle tickle. When the tattoo moves on its own, you don't really feel it after a while, but the sensation is more when someone else touches it. Someone that can—" Potter cleared his throat.

"That can what?" Draco asked.

"Someone that can make your heart beat faster," Potter answered; his response was a mere whisper.

Draco traced the lines again. He felt Potter's body slightly shiver under his touch, but Draco didn't stop. His fingers kept moving, first around the tattoo, then just on Potter's back, where there wasn't any ink, and then up to his shoulder. He leaned in close, almost as if he couldn't help himself. His body was being pulled towards Potter.

"Draco..." Potter's voice trembled.

Draco stepped closer; he brushed his nose against the back of Potter's neck, taking in his scent. His hand involuntarily rested on Potter's side and then his entire body was resting against Potter's, his clothed chest touching Potter's exposed back.

Draco was hard and his erection pressed against Potter's arse. He didn't want to pull away. Feeling Potter against him was incredible; being this close was intoxicating.

"Draco, don't..." Potter said, but he hadn't moved. He didn't push Draco away, nor did he pull Draco towards him. His body was rigid, but he was so warm that Draco couldn't stop himself—wouldn't stop himself.

"You should go," Potter said, turning around.

"Why?" Draco met Potter's gaze, but a moment later Potter looked away.

"Because if you don't..."

"Because if I don't—?" Draco reached Potter and placed his hands on Potter's waist again. He didn't wait and was against Potter's skin, feeling Potter's breath on him. Potter's arms were tense, and his half-hard cock rubbed against Draco's obvious erection.

Draco bent down and brushed his lips against Potter's. Potter didn't hesitate for one second, he deepened the kiss and Draco finally tasted him. He tasted of Firewhisky—one sip, and Draco was drunk.

Potter pressed hard against Draco, he murmured Draco's name, and before Draco knew what was happening, Potter was on the leather chair with Draco on top of him. Draco's heart was pounding harder than ever before, and he was hot, so hot for Potter. His body burned and he removed his shirt, continuing to grind his erection against Potter's. Draco wanted him more than anything in the world. He wanted Potter more than he wanted his freedom, wealth, his ink...his apprenticeship. Draco never wanted anything more… He needed Potter.

"No, not here," Potter said, trying to push Draco off him. "Not like this."

"Yes! Here," Draco insisted. "Here and like this. Please, Potter. I can't—I can't wait. I need you. Please!" Draco wasn't above begging in that moment.

Potter pushed Draco off him regardless. But before Draco had a chance to protest again, he undid the buttons on Draco's trousers and pulled them down. Next, he stood up himself, and slipped out of his own trousers. He pushed Draco down on the long chair, his chest resting against the back of it.

Potter climbed on top of Draco, and pushed his body against Draco's. He rubbed his cock against the crack of Draco's arse, and his hands moved in between Draco's legs. He spread Draco's thighs and moved his hand away.

Draco almost whined, but when he turned to object Potter smiled at him. He brought his hands to Draco's lips, and Draco sucked on Potter's fingers, licking them wet. He understood what Potter was doing and the excitement of the situation made his own cock twitch.

Draco released Potter's fingers and then they were pushing inside Draco. Draco arched back and moaned Potter's name. He must have liked that reaction, because Potter did it again and again until Draco seemed to be stretched enough.

"Now, Potter. Please..." Draco panted and grabbed the back of the chair harder. His fingernails dug into the leather, and Draco was sure that it was going to leave a mark. Potter pressed against Draco and with one swift movement pushed inside him.

Draco groaned with the pain for a moment, but when Potter pulled out of him and did it again, his own cock leaked against the leather. Potter ran one hand through Draco's hair and pulled his head back for a kiss. Draco was so full of him—Potter's tongue inside his mouth, his prick throbbing inside his body, and they moved; they moved as if they were doing this for the thousandth time.

Draco loved how they fit together.

After he pulled away from Draco, Potter moved his hips, hard. His one hand rested on Draco's shoulder as the other reached around between Draco's legs. Draco knew he was hot in Potter's grip. Potter bit into Draco's skin and moved faster.

Draco cried out his orgasm and Potter continued pounding into him. Draco released the leather chair and his hands travelled back to grab onto Potter's head. His fingers ran through Potter's hair and he tugged on the locks tightly. Their lips locked into a deep kiss again and Potter's fingers dug into Draco's skin as he climaxed.

Slicked and sticky, they lay on the chair. Potter pulled out of Draco and wrapped his hands around Draco's waist. They didn't speak and Draco noticed how their breaths were no longer shallow, no longer panting. He closed his eyes feeling Potter's come dripping out of his hole; he thought that he was going to rest his eyes just for a minute, and then Draco allowed sleep to take over him.

The food, the wine, the sketches, forgotten.

00*-*00

Draco woke to the sound of scribbling. He was under a warm and comfortable blanket, the bed was soft and he felt like he'd slept for days. He opened his eyes to take in his surroundings and saw Potter in the corner leaning over his workstation. He wore nothing but boxers.

Draco was in Potter's room. He was in Potter's bed.

He rubbed his hand over his face, sweeping the last bit of sleep off, and then he remembered. Draco going to show his sketches to Potter; Draco leaning against Potter's body; Potter kissing him, pushing into him. Fucking him.

"Hello," Draco whispered and Potter looked up at him, almost shocked.

He leaned back into his chair and smiled. A smile that made Draco's heart melt. A smile that assured Draco that he hadn't made a mistake, that it wasn't a mistake.

"Did I wake you?"

Draco shook his head and propped himself up on his left arm and rested his head on his hand. "What time is it?"

"Just after eight o'clock."

"You...you brought me here?"

Potter nodded.

"What are you working on?"

"Come and look." Potter extended his arm towards Draco, motioning him to come to him.

Draco crawled out of bed. He was completely naked and hesitated for a moment, but the way Potter was smiling at him, Draco was willing to walk like that through the entire house, let alone across the room.

Potter pulled Draco into his arms right away, and Draco sat in Potter's lap.

"What is it?" Draco asked, looking over the parchment that Potter was scribbling on; his handwriting barely legible.

"I sent Bhim to the Office of Law at the Ministry this morning. I wanted to make it official."

"Make what official?" Draco turned to look at Potter and Potter's hand had moved from the parchment to Draco's thighs. He leaned into the touch.

"Your apprenticeship. If you are to be my apprentice to become an ink-master, then you are no longer in a binding contract with me as my oeuvre. It'll render the service-bond useless."

"Oh," Draco said. He remembered the conversation he'd overheard between Charlie and Potter.

"But you're taking him on as your apprentice?"
"Yes."
"You know what that means..."
"I know exactly what that means."

"So this will ensure that I'm..."

"Free," Potter said. "You're not bound to me or anyone else. I can still work on you and your tattoos, but you aren't tied to the Potter household or the shop or—"

"But, I thought..."

"You thought what?" There was a slight note of panic in Potter's voice.

"My skin belonged to you?" Draco said with a smile.

Potter pulled him close and nuzzled into Draco's neck. "That's up to you now."

"You knew my interest in tattooing from the start," Draco said and Potter nodded against his skin. "You knew that I'd be more interested in being an apprentice..."

"Yes. I needed a canvas, I still do, but I value your freedom—I respect a human being too much to force them to be with me..."

"With Avi?" Draco asked.

"Avi is free to come and go as she pleases. We have rules but that's really more for her protection than anything else. Initially, she'd sought me out. She wanted me to ink her, so I had created a contract with her that she allowed with her own will. You didn't have that choice, Draco."

"So you would have done this regardless. You would have done this even if you..." Draco hesitated.

"Even if I wasn't in love with you?" Potter asked.

Draco felt a warmth rise in the pit of his stomach, and he wasn't sure if he was to cry or laugh. He settled against Potter's chest. "Yeah," he said, struggling to remain nonchalant. "If you weren't in love with me."

"You are talented and you picked up the work from the first day. It's clear that you are skilled in many things and even though you were intrigued by the idea of being a living art piece, it was not given to you via free will. I can't...I can't stress enough about the way I feel...about that. My own history. Hermione's hard work with freeing the house-elves, the ruthless pureblood traditions..."

"I was part of all of that. Some would say I deserved it."

"Yes. Well, I say that everyone deserves a second chance," Potter argued. "Draco, I want to help you because I would help anyone in your situation. But, I have to admit that your talent, your drawings, they're good. I know I started it all in order to help you become independent, but it's half the reason I fell in love with you."

"Just half?" Draco teased. He turned his head and kissed Potter's cheek.

Potter's hands grew bolder and he gripped Draco's legs tightly. Draco felt Potter's erection against his bare arse and even though he was sore from the night before, he wanted Potter again—ached for him.

"Half I suspect..." Potter ran his thumb over Draco's cock, and Draco released a groan of pleasure. "...half, I've always been in love with you," he said.

"Harry..." Draco arched his back and rubbed his arse against Potter's erection. Potter bit down on Draco's shoulder again, the same spot he had the night before.

"But you love me," Draco said and they were moving in unison: Draco grinding against Potter's cock wishing that it was inside him, and Potter stroking Draco's prick in harsh but even movements.

"Yes. Draco. I love you." Potter panted the words in between his own moans of pleasure. "Love you so damn much."

"And I love you," Draco said, pushing hard on Potter's cock as he came all over Potter's hand.

"Oh, Draco." Potter kissed the back of Draco's neck. "Say it again. Please," he said and struggled to keep Draco on top of his cock. "Tell me you love me."

"I love you, Harry." Draco rose and fell harder on Potter's cock and was grinding his arse on him again.

"Yes..." Potter mumbled and Draco felt Potter's hot come as he spilled in his shorts and Draco wanted to feel it against his skin, taste it in his mouth. He wanted to smear it against Potter's lips—

"Merlin, Potter. What do you do to me?" Draco said as he realised how illicit his thoughts were becoming.

"Me?" Potter asked, almost laughing. "I came in my pants. I haven't done that since I was sixteen years old!"

Draco laughed with him and reached for Potter's wand that rested at the edge of his workstation. "Here," he said, handing the wand to Potter who spelled them both clean.

"You carried me to your bed last night?" Draco asked as Potter pulled on Draco and they were heading back to his bed.

Potter nodded sheepishly.

"And the food?"

"I told Asha to go by the studio to clean up."

Draco stopped in his tracks. "So she knows already?" He tried not to sound too anxious.

"Yeah. She saw you sleeping in my bed."

"Oh." Draco's eyes unintentionally widened.

"Is that a problem?" Potter asked and Draco could tell the apprehension in Potter's voice.

"Of course not. I just—I'll just never live it down, will I?" He grinned at Potter attempting to show him that he wasn't upset about what they'd done, only that it would be embarrassing for a little while. With Asha, Alexis, and...Avi. Shite.

"Will you...will you still stay here? During your apprenticeship, I mean." Potter evidently hadn't noticed the slight panic attack Draco had just had.

"I have nowhere else to go," Draco answered. He felt like he belonged there now.

"But, if you did?" Potter asked. "If you could cash out what you earned on display and your payment as an employee at Lily's Tattoo Shop?"

"Potter." Draco looked at him intently. He leaned in to kiss Potter once and progressed to sit on the bed. "I want to stay here." He ran his hand over the sheets and tapped it once for Potter to come and sit next to him.

"Here?" Potter said, wide-eyed, and reached for Draco's hand. He held it tightly and then placed it on his heart.

"If I have the money to become self-sufficient, I'd rather use the Galleons to purchase my family heirlooms back from Kaminas..."

Potter groaned at the name and Draco couldn't help but laugh.

"What happened to the cool and stoic ink-master that rules this house?" he teased. "When did you become so uneasy? So impatient?"

"I've always been uneasy when it comes to you, Draco." He leaned in and kissed Draco, first on the cheek then on his lips. "Yet, it's always been you that gives me strength."

"Says the Gryffindor," Draco said. He pulled Potter towards him and they both slid under the blanket. With sunrise edging in through the window, and Potter's arm around his waist, Draco fell asleep again.

00*-*00

"You know he's just going to run away. You've always been afraid of that."

Draco opened his eyes in the morning and heard a faint chatter coming from the room next door. Avi's voice was impossible to miss and he had hoped that she would've been away longer.

It had been a blissful few days while she was at the Orléans'. He knew that it would be different, awkward, downright uncomfortable even, to have to tell her about the change of events. He wasn't going to be in the room next to hers anymore, and he'd be spending more time learning to draw and tattoo than spend it in the library; he really had no idea how she'd take it.

"He won't run away," Potter said, his tone more hushed than hers. "He wants this. He wants to learn."

"You think he's going to stay with you just because you fucked him? You forget that he's a Death Eater, Harry. They're only loyal to themselves." There was a beat of silence. "Emmanuel Orléans offered to teach him their family secret of how to hide in the wizarding world. He'll leave, Harry. He won't even look back."

Draco couldn't believe it. Everything from the beginning had been a lie. Her attitude, her friendship, she'd used him and she'd even lied to Potter about him and now—this.

"That's enough, Avi." Potter's voice was stern. Draco heard the shuffling of feet and then the door to Potter's bedroom was shut, as if Potter was afraid that Draco would hear.

Draco did hear.

"It'll be like the half-finished stag on your back..." was all Draco heard before he opened the door slowly and stepped out of the bedroom. He didn't need Potter to fight his battles for him. He never wanted that. Sure, Potter helped and would always help, but Draco could still hold his own. He knew Avi for who she was, and he wasn't afraid of her.

"Hello," Draco said quietly as he walked in.

"Draco," Potter said, apologetically. "We woke you..."

"It's alright. I'm used to the early morning hours," Draco replied, gently. "I wanted to know about the feast—"

"Don't be coy with me, Draco," Avi sneered. "Asha told me what you did to win your freedom."

And you fucking Monsieur Orléans is any different? Draco wanted to say but refrained. "She did? Did she tell you that she knew how I felt about Potter, and she sent me to him. That yesterday when I told her that I was in love with him, she jumped with joy?"

Avi didn't answer and only scowled at him more.

"Why are you really upset, Avi?" Draco asked. Potter had placed his hand on the small of Draco's back, and Draco was glad for the touch. He subtly leaned into it, making sure Potter would know that he wanted him there.

"You don't—you don't get to have a happy ending!" Avi retorted and then broke into tears like Draco had never seen before. She covered her face with her hands and sank into a nearby sofa. "It's not fair!"

"Avi! What's the matter?" Draco rushed to her side and started to pet her hair. "What happened? Tell me."

"I'd been suspecting it for a while, but I only confirmed it two days ago when I went to St Mungo's to see a Healer..."

"You're pregnant," Draco said. It made sense. When she'd heard that the Orléans were moving she'd nearly had a panic attack. She'd also been counting down to the end of her service-bond. She was waiting for the man to marry her or commit to her or something of the sort.

"How did you know?" she asked, shocked.

Draco shrugged. "So what happened?"

"Marie..." she said, sounding exasperated, "of all the people, accused me. She said that if I'd been providing my "services" to Jacque, then I might have done the same with others that invited me over for display. How could I prove that it was an Orléans' child I carried?"

Potter knelt down next to them. "I hate to ask, but..."

"I never...with anyone else!" she roared, and then immediately looked embarrassed. "I didn't even want to sleep with Monsieur Orléans, but he was just always so kind and sweet, and I really do love him. I do, Harry."

"I will speak to him, if you'd like," Potter said. He squeezed her shoulder and glanced at Draco. Draco smiled at him and Potter looked glad knowing that he'd said the right thing.

"Is that okay?" Potter asked Avi.

"You'd do that?" she asked, surprised again. "After everything I—"

"Hey," Potter said, wiping a tear off her face. "You're part of this family, Avi. And before you leave us, I want to make sure that you find a new one that'll protect you. Like us." He smiled again and kissed the top of her head.

"I'll go with him, but I'm not sure if that won't be counterproductive. Given Emmanuel Orléans and all..."

Avi laughed at Draco's response and pulled him in for a hug. "I am so sorry, Draco. I've just been a complete..."

"It's okay."

"...bitch."

Now it was Draco's turn to laugh. "It's alright. You were just watching out for yourself. The world's a harsh place, and we all...we all get lost sometimes." He felt Potter's warm hand rub over his spine and closed his eyes for a second. "Okay then. Let's get some breakfast, shall we?"

They stood up together and walked down the steps toward the kitchen. Alexis had everything prepared for them as Asha had been called away for a family matter.

Breakfast was almost over when an owl arrived, surprising them all.

"Monsieur Orléans wishes to stop by the house at noon. It seems he requests an audience."

"Jacque Orléans?" Draco asked.

"Yes," Potter said, rolling his eyes. "Jacque Orléans."

"What does he want?" Draco added.

"I don't know. It doesn't say. He just wrote that he wants to talk to me."

"I should, I should..." Avi thrown into disarray. "...shower. Maybe he'll want to speak to me. Strike some sort of a deal..."

"Avi," Potter said calmly. "It's okay. Just breathe and it'll be okay."

"Right," she said and left the room.

"A shower doesn't sound so bad right now," Potter said turning towards Draco and winked.

Draco immediately blushed and was about to respond when Alexis cleared his throat, making them aware that he was still in the room.

"Right. Brilliant," Potter said, biting his lip as he looked at Draco and walked away.

They all but ran up the stairs to Potter's room and the private bath that was attached to it. Potter removed Draco's clothes frantically, and Draco felt the same as he unbuttoned Potter's trousers.

Moments later, they were under the hot water and Potter was on his knees, licking and sucking on Draco's cock. When he stood up, he turned towards the water and handed the soap to Draco.

It'll be like the half-finished stag on your back...

Draco touched the tattoo on Potter's back again as he lathered Potter's skin and himself. He couldn't get Avi's words out of his head.

They finished showering and Potter must have felt Draco's unease because he held his hand and pulled him to the bed where they sat looking at each other. Potter raised an eyebrow indicating that he was waiting for Draco to speak.

"Why is the stag unfinished?"

"What?" Potter tensed up immediately.

"The tattoo on your back. It moves with magic, but it's incomplete. Why?"

"You heard her," Potter said.

"That's not an answer, Potter."

"I—it's from another apprentice. They'd started working under me and well, it just didn't work out."

"They?" Draco arched an eyebrow.

"He," Potter said.

"He," Draco affirmed. "Not the first apprentice you loved, then?"

Potter glowered at Draco. "Am I the first man you ever fucked, then?"

"On a leather chair, yes." Draco smiled at Potter, hoping that he could show Potter that he wasn't upset, or hurt, or feeling betrayed. Potter had a past. Of course he did. "Just tell me the story. I'm the last man on earth to pass any judgement."

"They told me that he wasn't worth my heartache...but who can really command a heart?" Potter closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "He always wanted more, and I could never satisfy his need. He wanted the fame, the display, the whole glittering future. We fell...for each other maybe me more than him. But when it came down to it, he fell for others too. Some with more money, more power, more stardom. And then he was gone...and, well your Patronus is based on happy memories, and I suppose it serves me right that it's still in progress."

"Do you still love him?"

Potter shook his head. "I don't think I ever did, really. I was just lonely and he was handsome, and sweet, and..." Draco was sure he was scowling. Potter laughed. "I was a different person, then. I know I can safely say that the way I felt about him doesn't even compare to the way I feel about you."

"You don't have to—"

"Draco. I don't do anything half-arsed. I'll circle the seas twice, if you asked me. I love you, and I'll do anything for you."

"How long did he stay with you before you let him ink you?" Draco asked.

"Nearly two years," Potter answered without hesitation.

"I'd barely stayed with you a month when you allowed me to ink you with that serpent," Draco said, shocked.

"I know. I saw something in you—felt something that I can't—I can't explain. Trust me, I've tried. I've talked to everyone who'd listen, until my face would turn blue and I can't—"

"You've talked? About me?"

"Yeah. To Ron, and Hermione. Charlie, Sebastian, Ann, Jackson, even Mrs Lipton that one time when you'd stayed home to rest..."

"They all know?"

"That I'm in love with you? Yes."

There was a knock on the door and the conversation came to a halt. Alexis coughed once and then knocked again.

Potter wrapped a dressing gown around him and left the room. Draco went into the cupboards to look for something of Potter's to wear. His things were still in his bedroom even though he'd been sleeping in Potter's room for the last few nights.

Potter returned and gave Draco an odd look. "It seems Monsieur Orléans has already arrived. Whatever he wished to say, he's too eager about it."

They dressed quickly and went into the sitting room where Jacque Orléans sat, looking worried. He stood up abruptly when he saw Potter and Draco approach.

"Mr Potter!"

"Monsieur Orléans," Potter said, serene. "I'm glad you're here. Draco and I were going to pay a visit to you today, anyway."

"Oh, good. I'm glad I was able to save you the trouble," he said, nodding frantically.

"Mons—"

"Mr Potter, I know what you are going to say. I already know that you don't like me, and you never approved of my special friendship with Avi. But, I wanted to tell you that I love her, and I'm sorry that Marie's words upset her so much. I've had time to think, and I've been an idiot. I fooled myself in thinking that I could live without her. I'm not like my brother, and I'm extremely glad that Mr Malfoy didn't give in to his manipulations, but I wanted to assure you, I'm not like Emmanuel. I love Avi. I want to marry her!"

"What about the accusation that it isn't yours? That Avi was promiscuous?" Draco arched an eyebrow. This was his family too now, and he was going to defend it. Potter looked at him with a warm smile, understanding what Draco was trying to do and he looked like he was glad for it.

"I—Marie says things without thinking them through. You know her engagement has ended? Anyway, I let her words steer me, but I'm back on track. I know the child is mine, and at any off chance it isn't, I still want it to be mine. I know that I'm older than Avi..."

"By a dozen years," Potter said, stern.

"I know. But I've waited my whole life for someone like her and I can't, I can't just let her get away. Don't you understand, Mr Potter? Haven't you wanted someone so much that you'd part seas for them?"

Potter cleared his throat but his face remained impassive. Monsieur Orléans had definitely struck a chord with him and Draco was impressed at how unaffected Potter was acting. Draco walked up next to Potter and placed his hand on Potter's shoulder.

"Are you not moving to France soon?" Draco asked.

"Yes. I'm hoping that we can announce our engagement—"

"What makes you think that we will let our Avi just go with you? What makes you think that we trust you?"

Potter leaned a half a centimetre towards Draco and his fingers brushed against Draco's left leg. Draco suppressed a smile.

"We can have a bonding ceremony instead of an engagement party and when we are all settled in Paris, we'll have the wedding. Will you allow that?"

"I—" Potter started to speak, but Draco cut him off.

"We will check with Avi and let you know," Draco said. "It is ultimately her decision, and she is the one who has to forgive you. Not Potter or I."

"Right, of course." Jacque nodded. "Will you please allow me to speak to her?"

Draco looked at Potter who gave him a look of: Well, can I speak now? Draco shrugged and Potter simply shook his head. They left the room and just around the corner saw Avi waiting for her cue.

"What did he say?" Avi asked anxiously. Her finger twirled in her hair as she tried to show that she wasn't nervous when Draco knew that she was panicking.

"Well, he wants to marry you," Draco said dryly, like it was the most unimpressive thing in the world.

Avi slapped his arm. "Shut up. This isn't the time for jokes, Draco."

"It's true," Potter added. "He wishes to ask you himself. You must agree that you'll have your bonding ceremony here, and I will play witness to it. Then, you can move to the other side of the world with him for all I care."

Avi launched at Potter in a hug and squeezed him tightly. "What about my ink? It isn't finished."

"After you have the baby, you can always come back. I'll free you of your service-bond, of course, and any time you want for tattooing, you can stop by."

"Hopefully not early in the morning, screaming outside our bedroom door, and divulging all of Potter's secrets," Draco added.

Potter glared at him and Draco grinned.

"I am very sorry about that, Harry," Avi said, giving them a sheepish look.

Potter shrugged. "It's alright. It was bound to come out someday, I'm sure. Now, I know Draco will pay attention when tattooing my back, just so he can prove that he's the better artist. And the better lover." Potter winked at her as she grinned, and this time it was Draco's turn to glare.

"Now, get going before he thinks our answer is no and he leaves!" Potter added and she all but squealed with excitement. She poised herself and walked slowly towards the sitting room.

"Lunch, Sir?" Alexis asked as he peered from around the corner.

"You best set the table for four, Bhim," Potter said.

"Very well, then. Apple Cider? Alexis asked.

"Non-alcoholic, I presume," Potter said and Alexis nodded. "Only for her. I'll need something harder." Draco suppressed a snort.

Alexis shook his head and returned to the kitchen.

"Business as usual," Draco muttered. Potter looked at him in confusion. "Don't tell me you've never noticed."

Potter rolled his eyes. "Of course, I've noticed. If there's anything about pining in silence, I'd be the one to know, Draco."

"And what are you doing about it?" Draco asked.

Potter shrugged. "I wasn't very good at sorting my own love life, how can I do anything for Bhim and Asha?" he asked.

"Well, I'm here now," Draco said. "And I plan to stay...so there will be no secret crushes in this house. No staying up well into the night longing after the one you desire."

"You plan on dictating everyone's life, Malfoy?" Potter asked, smirking slightly.

Draco shook his head. "I just plan to give a whole new meaning to 'business as usual', Harry."

THE END.

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