Draco collected his warmest cloak and Harry's jacket before leading Harry out to the broom shed on the edge of the main lawn. He gave Harry his nimbus and Harry immediately swung his leg over.

"Wait," Draco said, taking out his wand and charming a small blue-white lumos on the end of the broomstick, "So we don't run into one another."

"Someone could see us," Harry said.

Draco pulled up the hood on his cloak, "One, we're too far from the village for them to see anything. Two, I don't care. Stories of will-o-wisps had to come from somewhere."

"Or aliens," Harry said.

"Aliens? As in people from foreign lands?" Draco asked.

"From space," Harry said, pointing up with a smirk little grin.

Draco looked up at the sky, mostly obscured by clouds, "You're joking," but when he looked back down, Harry had already taken off.

Draco grumbled under his breath as he looked back into the shed and grabbed a broom at random and charmed another light to the end. He flew up slowly, keeping his warm fluffy cloak pulled tightly around himself as he rose, not particularly interested in being cold. He watched the distant speck of Harry's light as he flew low and fast, weaving around the outbuildings and shrubbery with an ease that Draco had always envied but would never admit.

Draco flew higher until he could see past the faint shadow of every rolling hill outlined by glimpses of moonlight through the clouds, to the dipping line of a black horizon that he knew if he followed would take him to the sea.

Harry rounded the manor like a shot and spiralled up and up until he flattened out and swirled around right in front of Draco. His hair had been swept back by the wind but fell back around his face as soon as he slowed, and Draco laughed as Harry tried to push it back out of his eyes.

"You wouldn't think it was so funny if it was your hair," Harry said.

Draco shuddered in horror at the thought.

Harry grinned, flying a bit closer, "Want to race?"

"With you on my fastest broom and me on one about five years older and ten times slower, yes that sounds fair," Draco said.

"What can't beat me?" Harry teased.

"That's not what I said," Draco said.

Harry peered at him, "Since when do you pass up a competition?"

"Since its bloody cold out and my cloak is not suited to racing and keeping me warm at the same time," Draco said.

"Wanna trade?" Harry offered, plucking at his ugly puffy muggle jacket.

"No." Draco said flatly.

Harry grinned, "I bet it would look great on you."

"The only thing that would look good on is a bonfire," Draco said.

Harry studied him thoughtfully, "You're doing this for me, aren't you. You don't have to. You could go back inside. I won't be long."

"I ate far too many sweets. A bit of fresh air is just what I needed," Draco said with a flush of embarrassment.

Harry nodded, "Yeah. I think.... I think I'm gonna to do another lap."

"Go on then," Draco waved him off.

He watched Harry do a wronski feint down towards the dark grounds, doing a corkscrew at the same time as if it weren't dangerous enough to begin with. After a while, and realising Harry was going to do more than just one lap, Draco straightened his back and pried one hand off the broom to cast a warming charm of himself in addition to the ones embedded in the cloak.

Just as he thought he should have taken Harry up on his offer to go back inside, the barmy git flew back up to him.

Harry drifted to his side so they nearly bumped shoulders, "I just..." his voice came out just above a whisper, "I just want to be normal for once in my life."

"You're exceedingly normal," Draco said. "You're so average it makes me ill."

Harry didn't laugh. He shifted on his broom, looking into the distance rather than at Draco, "I just thought it would be easier."

"What would be easier?" Draco asked.

"School, life...this," Harry said.

Draco took a deep breath.

"I mean it's not bad just- just-"

"How is this not easier than a war?" Draco asked.

"I've had a lot more experience with war," Harry said.

Draco gripped the edge of his cloak.

Harry looked down at his hands.

They sat, breathing out puffs of misty white air.

"Hand," Draco said, holding his hand out.

Harry's brow furrowed in confusion as he let go of his broom and let Draco take his hand, holding it a bit too tightly as they drifted together.

"What?" Harry asked.

"What what?" Draco said, narrowing his eyes at Harry, "I'm quite obviously comforting you because your stupid average boring life is too exciting for you."

Harry blinked at him.

"I mean, I understand, but we all have to figure out how to live. No one said would be fun," Draco said. He added, feeling a bit annoyed, "It's still massively better than a war. I was there. I remember. Normal life doesn't give you nightmares like that."

"You were there, huh?" Harry said, his tone waving between serious and not.

Draco frowned slightly to himself, "I might have missed a bit of the beginning."

"Just a bit. I was eleven," Harry said.

"The thing that got you all the points at the end of the year," Draco said.

Harry nodded, "Professor Quirrell was possessed by Voldemort. ...I killed him with my bare hands."

Draco squeezed Harry's hand so hard he winced, and Draco had to force himself to loosen his grip. "What?" he breathed.

"My mum's love, it protected me from Voldemort when I was a baby so touching Quirrel hurt him. He was already weak from being possessed. Honestly, I don't remember most of it, probably for the best really," Harry said flatly. "And then Dumbledore gave us enough points to win the house cup. At the time that seemed brilliant. Now it feels a bit more like giving a treat to a dog for performing well, to make sure I wouldn't run when the time came."

Draco pulled Harry closer, shoulder to hip to knee, they shared a line of warmth between them. He didn't know what to say, and anything he did say would probably be wrong, so he just stayed close and hoped it was enough.

Harry looked up, "It's starting to snow."

Draco could just barely make out the tiny flakes as they landed on his cloak. The snow was too light to do more than join the frost on the winter brown lawns and would melt as the sun drew up into the sky.

"You like the snow, right?" Harry said.

"I do," Draco said. He pulled his hood off, "I had a dream like this once, you know. Although it was spring and at Hogwarts and we were playing a seekers game-"

"Then how was it like this at all?" Harry asked.

Draco squeezed Harry's hand, "This part was the same. That's the important part. It wouldn't be hard to make the rest true. We could have a seeker's game when we get back to school."

"Still wouldn't be spring," Harry said.

"Enjoying being contrary just because you can?"

"Yes," Harry said starting to smile.

Draco rolled his eyes, "Well we could have seekers games all the way to spring on account of it being fun, you dullard."

"That would be brilliant," Harry said.

"I know, I thought of it," Draco said.

Harry snickered, "Prat."

"Git," Draco returned fondly. The snow was catching in Harry's hair, delicately balancing on the dark strands like tiny pearls of starlight and Draco wasn't sure he had ever seen something quite so beautiful before. "The snow in your hair looks like stars," he murmured.

Harry's breath hitched and he lifted their joined hands and kissing the back of Draco's hand, "Let's go back inside."

___

Harry unzipped his jacket, shaking it off as he closed the door to Draco's room behind them. He reached for the clasps of Draco's cloak.

Draco grabbed Harry's hands, "Wait- wait!" he said breathlessly.

Harry stumbled, his back hitting the door with a thump.

"Slow down," Draco laughed.

Harry grinned, his hands finally managing to open the delicate metal clasp and let the cloak fall the to ground. He wound his fingers into the grey weave of Draco's jumper to pull him close and kissed him hard, slipping his tongue into Draco's mouth at his gasp.

Draco slid his hands down Harry's chest, under the hem of his shirt and over his skin. He drew his fingers down Harry's back, the muscles twitching under his touch, tracing the line of his hips, and to the trail of coarse hair starting at his navel and leading down and down.

Harry moaned, his hips bucking as Draco's hand slid from skin to jeans, cupping his hard cock through the rough fabric.

"Is this okay?" Draco asked, barely a whisper, kissing Harry's jaw.

Harry nodded frantically, "Yeah don't stop."

Draco squeezed, and Harry gasped, his hands starting to shake against Draco's collarbone. Draco pulled the button of Harry's jeans open and the zipper slid down as his hand pushed into Harry's boxers, tracing the head and shaft with his fingertips before wrapped his hand around Harry's cock giving a few slow, careful pulls, trying to memorize the moment, what he felt, how Harry gasped and moved against him.

Draco shoved Harry's jeans down further so he could free his cock, ignoring Harry's whimper of complaint when he let go. He brought his hand up to his mouth, dragging his tongue from palm to fingertips, tasting a hint of Harry's skin and precome, before taking his cock in hand again and began moving, swiping his thumb over the head with every upstroke.

Draco was so hard it took all of the little willpower he had left not to rut against Harry's leg just to find release. He wanted more. Draco took Harry's hand, pulling it down and pressing it against the straining fabric of his trousers.

"Harry," Draco urged breathlessly.

Draco kissed Harry, trying not to smile as Harry fumbled with Draco's fly but he just grinned back even as he nervously pushed Draco's pants down. Harry hesitated, Draco didn't. He stepped closer, shuddering as Harry finally touched him. Draco stole an awkward kiss amongst their fumbling as they found something like a rhythm and began moving together.

Sweat began to bead on Draco's forehead. Harry's every breath sounded like a gasp but so did Draco's. He watched Harry transfixed, and when their eyes met, they kissed and were unwilling to pull away.

There were a thousand thing Draco wanted to say, about how beautiful and wonderful Harry was, how good he felt and how good he made Draco feel and how much he cared about him and wanted him and wanted to stay with him and to just be enough to last forever and I love you, and Draco said nothing. He bit the words down on the tip of his tongue. Because they were too much and he never wanted to be too much if it meant losing this.

And Harry. Harry said Draco's name like a whispered prayer.

Draco watched Harry's forehead furrow, his eyelashes flutter closed, "I- I'm-" Harry arched into Draco with a groan, his breathing and hand stuttering as he came.

Harry collapsed back against the door, letting his eyes close as his breathing calmed.

Draco pushed Harry's slack hand away, stroking himself roughly with his own, slick with Harry's come.

"Wait, I-" Harry pulling Draco against him and pushing his hand away, "let me. Let me do it," he said faintly.

Draco whimpered and bit his lip, grabbing Harry's shirt and bracing his other hand against the door.

Harry twisted his wrist with every stroke, "Is this-?"

Draco nodded, dropping his head onto Harry's shoulder.

Harry kissed his neck, and Draco shuddered as the heat grew, "I'm close," Draco said breathlessly and in a matter of moments groaned as he came, clinging even closer to Harry through the wave of pleasure.

Draco lifted his head, and they kissed soft and languid.

Harry reached into his pocket, taking out his wand and flicking a cleaning charm over them.

The sweat and mess might be gone, but his hair and clothes were still a disaster, Draco sighed, "I want a shower."

"I'll have one in the morning, I think," Harry said.

"I was thinking we could shower together," Draco said.

"Oh."

Draco took a step back, his trousers taking the opportunity to fall to the ground. He pushed his pants off as well, kicking the lot behind him. Draco pulled his jumper down, though it only covered half his bum, trying not to feel self-conscious with the way Harry was staring at him.

"Join me?" Draco asked.

Harry nodded, offering no resistance as Draco grabbed his sleeve and guided him into the bathroom.

Draco turned on the water and adjusted the heat of the water, pulling off his shirt and stepping into the shower. He ducked his head under the spray, pushing his fingers through his hair with a sigh.

"Are you coming?" Draco asked, looking back to where Harry was still frozen in place. Draco raised an eyebrow, "Harry?"

Harry twitched and quickly tried to drag his jumper off, nearly losing his glasses, taking a second to cast water-repelling and defogging charms, before trying to put them back on while pushing his jeans off at the same time. He tripped, barely catching himself on the sink counter, and took a little more care removing the rest of this clothes.
Harry pushed his hand through his hair ruefully as stepped inside the shower

Draco straightened Harry's glasses as he fought down a smile.

"Just laugh, I know I looked ridiculous," Harry said.

Draco grinned, "You're such a klutz."

Harry sighed and tried to push his damp hair back, but it seemed to be curling even more than usual which only helped its agenda of being a menace to society. He took Draco's arm, stepping around him and into the spray, letting the water soak into his hair.

Draco reached out, spreading his hands over Harry's back.

Harry jumped slightly, "What are you doing?"

"Touching you," Draco said absently, running his hands down the tan skin. He had a lot of scars, a few old and faded, and some new and sharp. Draco drew his thumb across a long slashing scar over Harry's ribs. They were all so starkly pale against Harry's darker skin.

"...Draco-"

Draco cupped Harry's arse in both hands.

Harry spun back around, "You- really- I -!"

"The thing about seekers-" Draco said, stepping closer, and slipping his hands around Harry's waist and slowly sliding then further back and down to grab his bum again, "-they spend so much time racing around, flexing their thighs and hips and arse, they really have the finest-"

Harry grabbed Draco's arse and squeezed, smirking in delight when Draco let out an undignified yelp. "You know, I think you might be right, Draco."

Draco glared at him.

Harry kissed the pout from his lips and laughed.

Draco reached up and touched and tugged at Harry's hair, "You didn't use the conditioner this morning did you?"

"Conditioner is kind of pointless isn't it?"

Draco rolled his eyes, "Your hair would be a lot more manageable if you did." He grabbed his shampoo and slowly began working it into a lather in Harry's hair, massaging it into his scalp and getting a delightfully indecent moan for his effort. Draco bit his lip, watching a line of soapy bubbles slid down Harry's neck and down onto his chest

"Merlin, that's amazing," Harry muttered his eyes closed.

Draco let the shampoo rinse out and grabbed his conditioner, "Switch with me." Harry stepped around Draco and out of the direct spray so Draco could work the conditioner in, "Now let it sit for at least three minutes before rinsing. It's entirely worth the effort."

"And if I didn't use the conditioner I could already be done," Harry said.

"Wash the rest of yourself? Have a wank? There's plenty to do," Draco said.

"No wonder you took so long this morning," Harry said.

"No wonder you didn't," Draco said and gave Harry a look, "Who doesn't wank in the shower?"

Harry grabbed the shampoo and poured a dollop directly onto Draco's head.

"Hey-!"

"The tower showers aren't, uh, very private," Harry said, working the shampoo up into a lather, his hands rough but careful. "I just got used to doing it in my bed with the curtains pulled and a few silencing charms."

"A few?"

"The idea of any of the lads overhearing me-" Harry shook his head, "No. Just no way."

Draco grimaced and nodded, "If Blaise had ever found something like that out he would have never let me live it down," Draco said.

"Where did Zabini end up anyway? He wasn't in... in the war."

"France or maybe Italy, he was rather vague and in a hurry when I saw him last," Draco said closing his eyes, "Theo went to America to finish his schooling because they won't care about his father there, and Gregory is doing community service for a commuted sentence."

Harry was quiet.

Draco leaned his head back to rinse his hair and wiped the water from his eyes.

Harry was staring at Draco's chest. He reached out and traced a line nearly as pale as Draco's skin, only the faint pink hue to the scars making them visible, "I thought... Snape said dittany would..." Harry's brow furrowed, "Weren't there a lot more than this? I remember it- it was horrible."

"Tactful as always," Draco said, taking Harry's hand and pouring conditioner in the palm and then guiding Harry's frozen hand to his head, "There were. I asked Severus to leave those ones."

"Why?" Harry asked, looking deeply upset, his fingers slowly combing the conditioner into Draco's hair.

Draco sighed, "...for blackmail purposes."

Harry froze, "What?"

"I asked Severus to leave some as evidence to blackmail you," Draco said peevishly, "I didn't have time or means or will to follow through. It was just a childish impulse."

A slow smile of utter disbelief spread across Harry's face, and he let out a bark of laughter, "Of course you did."

"Oh fuck off," Draco muttered.

Harry slid his hand down Draco's chest again, his fingers slippery with conditioner. He shook his head, "I didn't know what the spell did... or why I cast it. It was so stupid. I was so stupid."

"You won't hear me argue that particular point," Draco said.

"Still-"

"I nearly crucioed you," Draco said, "You were the last person in the world I ever wanted to see me crying. Of all people that had to walk into that bathroom. You have the worst timing."

"It was more like I had been following you," Harry said, a touch guiltily.

Draco's eyes widened as realisation dawned, "That fucking map!"

"Yeah," Harry said chagrined.

Draco shook his head.

"Why don't you hold it against me? Why are you so... okay about what I- I did?" Harry asked.

"You have to answer the same question," Draco said, "I'm not going to say unless you do as well."

"Okay," Harry nodded.

Draco took a deep breath, looking down at the water draining at their feet and tried to shift the subject, "Really, we ought to be having an entirely different sort of conversation with us being naked and wet-"

"Draco."

"Fine," Draco muttered, his shoulders slumping slightly, "I suppose it comes down to this. The past made us who we are but... I don't care about it much. I don't-" he frowned and turned over his left forearm, the remnant of the dark mark just an ugly raised scar. It was far redder than any other scar he had and unbearably sensitive, like a wound that no longer bled but refused to heal. He brushed his fingers over the skin, and his left hand twitched and spasmed at the uncomfortable sensation, "-I don't want to be held prisoner by a past that's dead and gone. All that matters to me is what happens now."

Harry raised his hand to touch Draco's arm and Draco quickly pulled it away, pressing it against his stomach.

"Your turn," Draco said, "Why doesn't it bother you? All the horrible shite I did to you over the years."

"It was mostly just obnoxious," Harry said.

"Some of it was horrible. Enough of it."

"Well...same as you mostly," Harry said.

Draco narrowed his eyes, "That's a cop-out, and you bloody well know it."

Harry took a step closer, and Draco stepped back, the water that had been sluicing down his back hitting the back of this head making him gasp and sputter in the spray.

Draco smacked Harry's shoulder, "You fuck!"

Harry laughed and ran his hands through Draco's hair, working the conditioner out. "...I just feel like who you are isn't who you were," he said, "You've changed. In a good way."

Draco stepped out of the way so Harry could stick his head under the shower.

"But is it enough," Draco said quietly, guilty and was relieved when Harry pushed his hair out of his face and asked-

"What was that?" as he turned off the water.

"Nothing really," Draco said, stepping out of the shower and wrapping himself up in a fluffy white towel and throwing another at Harry, "We should get ready for bed. I have a train to catch in the morning."