Celandine's Chronicle (celandineb) wrote in cels_fic_haven, @ 2007-08-08 21:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | hp fic draco/harry, hp fic settlement |
HP fic: Choices [Harry/Draco, general]
Title: Choices
Author: celandineb
Fandom: HP
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: general
Warnings: Deathly Hallows spoilers.
Summary: [highlight to see summary] Draco sees two possible ways to enable himself and Harry to settle their mutual life debt.
Note: This is a sequel to "Settlement." Yes, there will almost certainly be more.
When no owl had arrived from Harry within the next month, Draco couldn't decide whether he was relieved or disappointed. Their mutual life debt would have to be settled sometime, of course, but there no real rush; neither of them was even fifty years old yet. There was plenty of time. And if they waited long enough, perhaps that lingering emotion between them would simply disappear of its own accord. Draco ignored the fact that thirty years seemed to have made very little difference.
The incident had, however, made him begin to rethink his life just a little bit. After half a year in his near-monastic little flat, Draco began to add a few touches that made it seem like it was his. Daphne came over one evening and complimented him on it, saying that he looked happier than he had done in a long time.
"Are you seeing someone?" she asked, one eyebrow raised as she leaned back elegantly.
Shaking his head, Draco said," No. No, there isn't anyone. What about you?"
Daphne smiled. "There are one or two possibilities on the horizon, but I'm in no hurry."
"Sensible of you," said Draco, "but then you always were, weren't you?" He took her hand and they sat companionably, talking about Scorpius and Rosie, and whether Draco's father was likely to get over his pique at that marriage if there were a great-grandchild.
"I hope they don't have one right away," said Daphne.
"Why not?"
"There's no rush, and I think that they'll both be happier if they allow themselves time to get used to each other first."
"I trust them to make the right decision," said Draco. "Between us we raised a good son." It might not have been his first choice for his life, but he found it hard to regret that it had happened.
Daphne rose and brushed a swift kiss over his temple. "See you in a few weeks."
After she had gone, Draco reflected on their conversation. Daphne had always known that he preferred men, but she hadn't seemed surprised when he said that there was presently no one new in his life. He wasn't old, scarcely even middle-aged by wizarding standards, and not unattractive, he knew. Most other wizards in his position would already be seeing someone, so why had Daphne been unsurprised that he was not?
Peering into the mirror as he cleaned his teeth, Harry's words crept into his memory. "Most of the time you were a bit of a coward."
It was true. Nearly always he had taken the easy way out, done what was expected of him, tried not to think about what he wanted. But now... his son was grown and gone, Daphne and he had agreed to lead separate lives, and for nearly the first time he had taken a stand against his father, on Scorpius' behalf. Perhaps it was time not to be afraid anymore, but to take a risk for his own happiness.
The next evening, after work, he wrote a letter to Harry.