HP ficlet: No Paternal Oversight Desired [Draco/Harry, Harry/Lucius, general]
Title: No Paternal Oversight Desired Author: celandineb Fandom: HP Pairings: Harry/Lucius (implied), Draco/Harry (future) Rating: general Length: 850 words Summary: Having drinks with both his father and Harry Potter is not the most comfortable experience Draco has ever had. Note: For quill_it, 100.3, prompt 38, "fright". For felaine who wanted Harry/Lucius. This is part of the Harry/Lucius, Draco/Harry series, the previous instalment being "Two Roads, but stands alone (I hope).
Draco looked from one to the other of the two men sharing his table, unconsciously shaking his head. He had been pleased to run into Harry here tonight, the more so when his tentative suggestion that they have a drink together had been enthusiastically accepted. He had fancied Harry for quite some time, and a few hints in the Prophet indicating that the erstwhile Gryffindor Seeker flew on both sides of the broomstick had given Draco the hope that Harry just might be interested in return.
Normally he would not have minded being joined by his father, either, although the admiration and respect he had felt for Lucius as a little boy had been replaced by more complex, and not always positive, emotions.
Having Lucius and Harry together was uncomfortable, however. Draco would have liked to flirt with Harry a bit, and he sensed that Harry felt the same way in reverse, but the presence of Lucius was inhibiting to both of them. In fact, if anything, it was Lucius who was flirting with Harry, keeping his eyes fixed on the younger man with only occasional glances at his son, and making remarks that could easily be construed as having double meanings.
"I trust you are well, and enjoying all the pleasures that a grateful public can bestow upon you?" Lucius asked Harry with a slight smile.
Harry blushed. "Yes, thank you."
"Sowing a few wild oats, I should imagine."
"I suppose you could say that," muttered Harry, going even redder. He looked at Draco, his eyes hunted, tacitly imploring Draco to say something to help.
"What have you been doing with yourself?" asked Draco.
"Er, what do you mean?"
Draco's question seemed to have disturbed Harry even more; he looked as though he had had some terrible fright. Draco couldn't understand such an extreme response to a simple pleasantry, but he tried again.
"I heard at one point that you were planning to try to join the Aurors," said Draco. "Did you?"
"Oh, yes. For a bit. I was accepted and started the training, but after a few months I realised that I didn't want to be an Auror, not really. I'd had enough of all that sort of thing facing Voldemort." Harry bit his lip, apparently regretting the reference in front of the two Malfoys. "I've started an apprenticeship with old Ollivander, learning wand lore."
"That sounds interesting," Draco replied out of politeness. Personally he didn't see much attraction in such a job, but he supposed Harry knew what he liked.
"It is, actually. There's a great deal more to it than I'd ever thought; each type of wood or core has its own properties, but they can combine in very unexpected ways." Harry's voice was animated. "I've found I really enjoy it."
"Playing about with wands all day does sound delightful," commented Lucius with a slight smirk.
Draco scowled at his father, but said nothing. Any overt reaction would only encourage Lucius further. Harry shifted slightly in his chair, subtly turning away from Lucius. Something bumped Draco, and he realised it was Harry's leg pressing against his own. The thrill of it pulsed through him. He saw Harry wet his lips, and wondered what it would be like to kiss that red mouth. He wished his father would go away; what in Merlin's name was he doing sticking around here? Lucius had finished his drink, and surely he could see that Draco was fine and didn't want or need him there.
Perhaps Lucius had some inkling of Draco's thoughts, for at last he rose. "I suppose I should be getting along; I'll see you this weekend. Your mother says you're planning to visit us?"
"I'll be there Saturday, Father," said Draco.
"Take good care of yourself, Mr Potter," said Lucius to Harry.
Harry merely nodded, blushing again. Draco had never thought he was so easily embarrassed, but it was rather endearing.
"I'm sorry if my father made you uncomfortable," he said, leaning forward, as soon as Lucius had gone. "He has peculiar sense of humour sometimes."
"So I saw." Harry tipped back the last few drops in his glass. "I think another of these is in order, don't you?" At Draco's nod, he went and bought a fresh round.
"It's strange to be here with you like this," said Draco thoughtfully upon Harry's return.
"Perhaps, but in a good way." Harry lifted his glass and clinked it against Draco's. "Cheers."
They both drank. Harry's throat worked as he swallowed.
"Could I ask you something? Maybe this is too soon, but I'm not very good at this sort of thing," said Harry.
Draco felt that thrill down his spine again, as if he already knew what Harry would ask. "Of course."
"Would you consider going to bed with me?" Once again Harry's face was scarlet, but his green eyes pleaded with Draco, who felt a surge of triumph. That was, after all, very much what he desired, and Harry had been the one to do the asking.