When Draco came to check on Harry the next day, he was like a completely different person. He didn't think he had ever seen Harry smile so much with the happiness actually reaching his eyes.

"Hi Malfoy, are you doing alright?"

"I am, thank you. Today is my day off so-"

The smile promptly fell off of Harry's face.

"Then you should go home. I exhausted you yesterday, you need today to reset."

"Potter, I'm fine. I'm not doing any more scar removal today, I'm simply checking up on your wound, that we quite literally reopened yesterday need I remind you."

"But it's your day off."

If Harry was going to be a Gryffindor, Draco was going to be a Slytherin.

"I distinctly recall something about friendship being mentioned yesterday?"

"Yes? What about it?," Harry replied, wrinkling his nose in confusion.

"Friends check up on their friends do they not?"

"Of course they do."

"Wonderful. You checked up on me, I'm fine, now I'm checking up on you. Shirt off. Now."

"Yes sir," Harry replied with a fond eye roll.

Draco didn't dwell on the shiver that ran down his spine at the sarcastic nickname.

"Oh wow."

Being an Auror really had done wonders for Harry's body. Draco always kept it professional at Saint Mungo's, but in the privacy of Harry's home he couldn't help but let his eyes linger.

"It looks good then? The scar?," Harry pressed after a few awkward moments of silence.

"Yes it does!," Draco responded quickly, face burning.

Harry turned to look at him curiously, but when he noticed the look on Draco's face the corners of his mouth lifted.

"The only plus side of Auror training," Harry admitted. "Does it need another cleaning?"

"I'm going to touch you now if that's alright?"

"Do what you need to do."

Harry sighed in contentment as Draco's hands gently traced his back. Draco let his touch linger longer than necessary, he couldn't help it. He was off the clock anyway.

"It actually does look really good. A little sore still, did you sleep okay?"

"Yeah, on my stomach to keep the pressure off of it."

"I'm just going to run a quick diagnostic which does not take a lot of energy out of me."

"Okay. Then we can discuss payment for the treatments."

"Potter-"

"Healer Malfoy," Harry replied sternly.

"I'll bill you my flat rate you insufferable git."

"Thank you, that's all I ask," Harry replied with a grin.

Draco just huffed dramatically and cast the spells.

"I'm actually going to see how this scar reacts to my magic now. I won't use a lot, I just need to run a test. I'm doing it anyway, I'm just letting you know."

"Do you want me to lie down?"

"Please."

Draco watched as Harry stretched out on the couch, back cracking.

"I'm going to fix that too," Draco muttered, applying tension to Harry's shoulder blades.

"Oh Merlin."

"You need to take better care of yourself, you know."

"I'm trying. I told you, it's hard some days. I come home to an empty house. Everyone is moving forward while I'm just... static. This is the most conversation I've had with another person since I fought with Ron, and you're just here for work."

"You are aware I can be here for work but also simultaneously because I care about you?"

"Aww Malfoy you're going soft on me."

Harry yelped as Malfoy pinched his side.

"I'm sorry, I deserved that," Harry huffed. "Stay for dinner again? I tried out a new recipe, I want your opinion."

"Are you trying to domesticate me?," Draco teased, successfully healing the scar partially.

"Is it working?"

"Keep trying and I'll let you know."

"I love a challenge."

"Come take a look in the mirror before I put on the salve and wrap it again."

"You're amazing," Harry said simply, staring at his back in the mirror.

"It's my job," Draco reminded him as he wrapped the wound.

"Two things can be true simultaneously," Harry reminded him. "Can... can I hug you?"

"I suppose so."

With a soft smile on Harry's face, Draco allowed Harry to pull him into his chest, and he hated how it felt like home. He tenderly wrapped his arms around Harry, resting his chin on Harry's head.

"You don't need to show off that you're taller," Harry teased.

"Just shut up and accept your hug."

"I really do appreciate all that you've done for me," Harry remarked, pulling away after another few moments.

"I haven't done much of anything."

"You've done more than you know for me Malfoy. Even just being there to listen means a lot. I've spent most of my life alone, so it's nice knowing that I've got you in my corner."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Ask me whatever you want over dinner. Come on, it should be ready now."

"If I'm being too nosy please tell me to bugger off, but... Weasley."

"Which one?," Harry asked with a snort.

"The Weasel," Draco clarified. "Have you given much thought to future job prospects?"

"Ah. Well, this is a break to see if I actually can live for myself without feeling the urge to jump in and save everyone else as I continue to drown."

"And? You look better."

"I feel better, but it's only been one day. I'm sure after a week I'll be going stir crazy. I've never had time to develop any hobbies. What do normal people do?"

"I know you're not asking me, the pureblood reformed death eater, what normal people do," Draco remarked with a snort.

"I guess we'll have to figure it out together," Harry replied with a soft smile on his face.

"Unlike you, I am actually still employed."

"I guess you'll have to make time for me then," came Harry's bold reply.

"I do believe you still owe me dinner at our diner."

"We had mentioned Friday? It's a date," Harry challenged.

Draco didn't bother correcting him.

They had decided that after dinner, Harry would go to Draco's for some more healing. Delilah was absolutely delighted to see the two men together again and doted on them more so than usual. Harry took it in stride, but Draco couldn't help the few times his cheeks had colored.

"So, are you bored yet?"

"Actually, I'm not! I've got a new project," Harry replied, leaning forward with a wicked grin.

"Do tell Potter."

"I've begun remodeling."

"By yourself?"

"With who else? I'm going to be putting in a pool."

"Does that mean you'll be around to use it?"

"I hope so. I'm... cautiously optimistic. I say that like I'm not on call-"

"You said you were on vacation!," Draco accused.

"If you recall, on my first day of vacation a lot of aurors came into Mungo's."

"So what, they revoked your vacation?"

"Not exactly... I'm not always on call, they just let me know the day of if I may be needed."

"What an awful life to live."

"That could be the tagline to my book. It's not so bad, I'm always on edge anyway at least that gives me a reason to be."

"Can I write you a healer note to get out of it?"

Harry laughed softly and rested his hand on top of Draco's.

"I appreciate the concern."

"Here I was thinking I didn't have to worry about you anymore."

"I'm sorry. It comes with the territory."

"I didn't mean it like that Potter," Draco reassured, running his thumb over the top of Harry's hand. "Come on, let's get you to mine and I can tell you what bad taste you have in interior design."

Laughing, Harry squeezed Draco's hand before beating him to the bill.

"It's on me next time," Draco promised, squeezing Harry's hand back.

They walked hand in hand to Draco's home.

"I'll give you the tour and then we can get started."

"I really do have bad taste in interior design," Harry replied with a snort as he removed his shoes.

"Don't you dare order anything until I've had the chance to look at it."

"That's fair."

It was getting easier for Harry to remove his shirt in front of Draco and not be worried about his reaction to the scarring. He once again felt himself leaning up into Draco's touch.

"Your hands are so soft."

"It's called moisturizer, I think you could use some."

Harry snorted, face pressed into a pillow.

"You really are so fucking funny."

"I did tell you that, didn't I? Are you ready?"

"Ready."

Taking a deep breath, Draco was finally able to remove the last lingering remnants of the scar as Harry vaguely talked more about his childhood.

"It's done," Draco replied with a heavy sigh, dropping onto the couch.

Harry quickly got him a glass of water and cast a cooling charm on him.

"Thanks."

"No, thank you. What else can I do for you?," Harry asked, gently rubbing Draco's back.

"Remind me to get into my pyjamas first next time Merlin. That's the only one I can do today. We can pick back up with it on Tuesday night?"

"Is that enough time for you to rest?"

"I think that one was the worst of them all. Nothing else looks as if it was infected. The rest should be a lot easier. I think I'll focus on some recent ones next time from your missions," Draco replied, his eyes closed as Harry gently pulled him to lean against him.

"Can I help you to bed?"

"I just need a few minutes is all."

Draco quickly fell asleep, resting at an awkward angle against Harry. Huffing a quiet laugh, he pulled Draco to rest more solidly against him, his head now in Harry's lap. Harry couldn't help but card his fingers through Draco's hair. He summoned a book off the shelf across the room and let Draco sleep.

What felt like resting his eyes for a few minutes was actually a few hours. Harry didn't mind, feeling Draco's weight against him, but Draco was extremely embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry."

"I'm not. I'll have to finish this book when I come back."

"I didn't know you could read."

"Not the first time you said that to me," Harry replied with a snicker. "Come on Malfoy, let's get you to bed."

"I'm fine," he replied with a yawn.

"Humor me?"

"You're insufferable."

"I can always count on you to keep my ego in check."

"That was my first job. Why quit when I'm good at it?"

Laughing, Harry slung his arm around Draco and helped him upstairs.

"I'm going to need a bit of direction."

"First door on the right."

"Can I help you into your pyjamas?," Harry asked innocently.

"In your dreams Potter."

"Sounds about right."

Draco sputtered, turning away from Harry to get his pyjamas.

"Insufferable," he settled on.

"Only to you," Harry admitted, resting his head on Draco's shoulder as he hugged him from behind. "I'll see myself out. Sweet dreams Malfoy."

"Goodnight Potter."

Draco dreamt of Harry all night long.