“Excuse me Junior… Auror Riley, they sent for reinforcements and WE are the reinforcements.” Draco said, haughtily enunciating the junior part. He was wearing his signature snarl, nose in the air and Harry can only dispare….from the sidelines, hands in his pockets.
“You wouldn’t want anyone saying you were obstructing the justice that the Chosen One distributes whenever he even glances at us mere mortals, would you?”
Junior Auror Riley blanches and stutters out a near unintelligible defense of his actions, something about being told to watch the door, not to let anyone in without clearance from Robards.
“Come on Malfoy…don’t start with that shite. Cut the poor kid some slack, you wanker”.
Harry’s words seem to work up Riley more than Draco’s could, and Harry smirks.
“I will have you know, Robards is only trying to protect the rest of you lot. It’s not pretty in there, I don’t know if you can handle it, been in and out myself a couple times”. He stands tall, looking only a little green.
“Well, you can fuck right off, I have seen things that would curdle your blood. Death Eater, remember? Ron….” Draco pauses for a slight moment, then hardens his tone to steel. “Auror Weasley sent his patronus to me directly, and stated that my expertise with Death Eater MO’s was required.”
“Ex Death Eater” Harry whispers, shoulders slumped.
Neither of the other men pay any attention to him.
Auror Riley still seems unsure, hesitates. Draco presses him, verbally and physically. “Are you being fucking serious right now, who are you trying to protect?”.
Auror Riley subtlety glances at Harry, Draco’s gaze softens slightly. “Too right, Auror Potter is quite the numpty, shouldn’t be trusted. I was planning on going in myself, does that suffice?”.
While Riley protests about Harry’s abilities, Draco is already beginning to push past him into the crime scene. Harry ignores Riley and grabs Draco’s wrist, “you don’t need to do this” his tone pleading.
Draco avoids his gaze, “Yes I do”. His tone soft, then he adds “stop trying to neuter me Potter, you can’t always have the glory”. Then he turns and heads in, shoulders squared.
Auror Riley looks at Harry, “Mate, I don’t know how you tolerate that bloke. With who you are, you could pick anyone for your partner, I am sure”.
Harry, still looking at the space Draco occupied before entering. “I signed up for it, no one else can handle him”.
Hours later, in the darkened alleyway behind the crime scene, both under a privacy spell Harry cast non verbally, Harry holds back Draco’s long hair while he vomits.
Harry rubs calming circles on his back. “Baby, I didn’t know why you keep doing this to yourself. You have made up for it, I promise”.
Draco groans, wipes his mouth, tears blearing his eyes. “No, I haven’t. You know why I do this. Don’t start”.
Harry looks at him helplessly. “Are you finished at least?”.
“For tonight at least.” He goes to stand and wobbles on his feet. He pauses, looks at his partner. “Harry…” his voice breaks. “there were children….”. He breaks into near silent tears.
“My love, I’m so sorry, come here”, Harry wraps his arms around him. Once Draco begins to calm, “want to talk about it over tea and a warm bath?”.
“Fuck off, Potter, that’s the last thing I want to do.
Harry smirks, he knew that would be his partner’s response. Draco only lets him comfort him one way when he is like this.
“What about I ride you, while wearing your Quidditch jersey? Will you finally leave this dirty alley and come home?”.
Draco, still looking devastated, lets one side of his mouth tip up. “You drive a hard bargain, you tosser, but that might be agreeable”.
He stands up, grabs Harry’s hand. “Thank you, sweetheart”, he whispers.
Harry disparates them home.
gummygunk
theartofmadeline
vaporwave
stormborns
