In "that" Phase

In "that" phase

Day 6- Holiday cards @hpdestress

Harry grumbled lightly as he rubbed his eyes then opening them to find an empty bed. He got up sleepily, yawning then taking his feet off the bed and finally walking out of the room. He padded across the hallway, hearing the faint singing in the shower meaning Draco was using the washroom and he decided to get the newspaper and prepare the breakfast while he waits. Like a usual morning in the mid December, he walked out of the door in a lose robe then picked up the newspaper from the front door and walked right into the kitchen, setting coffee in the making and bread in the toaster and finally opening the newspaper to read the headlines. Typical morning, he realized, a robbery at the fifth, a new opening for a job, a new cafe being opened down the leaky cauldron, another muggle news, typical news, he grumbled to himself. 

The kettle whined and he took it off the stove then suddenly remembered he didn’t check the post and went out in the cold and fetched the post’s. After bringing them in, Harry assumed it must be the same typical messages he received daily until he was holding his coffee mug to his lip ready to drink when he came across an envelope addressed to both Harry and Draco. 

“ Morning, Love” Draco greeted, entering the kitchen in a red robe Harry had bought for him a couple of months ago. He kissed him on the cheek quickly and took a cup of coffee himself and bread out of the toaster. 

But Harry didn’t greet him yet. 

“ Babe?” Draco announced but still had Harry’s minimal attention. He rolled his eyes then wrapped his arms around his beloved’s torso “ I said good morning “ He said kissing his neck. 

“ We got a holiday card “ Harry said 

“ Then why are you telling me like its a divorce paper “ Draco chuckled. 

Harry rolled his eyes then dropped it on the counter and turned to face Draco whose arms were still wrapped around his own. 

“ I’m just saying cause its new for us, It was from Blaise and Ron “ Harry told him 

“ Really ?” Draco asked in complete surprise, picking up the holiday card from behind Harry “ Didn’t they just started dating like a couple months ago, they’re already on the holiday card stage” 

“ Exactly what I thought. They’d only been dating for- well almost an year but still, that’s a huge step to take don’t you think. In our first year, we didn’t even properly tell people who we were dating" Harry's expression dangled somewhere between him being proud and kind of shook at the same time.

" well- I guess then when you know, you know. Maybe they're really serious about each other and really are the ones for each other you know " Draco shrugged.

Harry smiled at him then ran his finger's through Draco's hair " do you think we are the holiday card sort of couple ?"

Draco thought for a moment then shook his head " Not really, I don't think it's our thing you know"

Harry gazed at him for a moment, contemplating what he had just said and also taken a back for a moment but forbade it to reflect on his face and instantly agreed with Draco " for sure- we aren't that couple "

His boyfriend then smiled at him, kissed him chastily over his lips and left the kitchen taking the coffee mug with him while Harry remained there watching the moving photograph of Ron and Blaise on a Christmas holiday card.

______________________________

" it didn't seem weird to you ?" Harry asked taking the plate of croissant with him while Ron collected the cup of Espresso's to the table.

" you know what was weird, knowing I had an erection for Blaise-"

" oh for Christ's sake Ron" Harry gagged.

Ron let out a laugh sitting down on the chair " works everytime "

" you've got to stop bringing this up. I know you're bisexual and stuff but please for the love of all that is good stop talking about your erection " Harry complained.

Ron stooped laughing taking the croissant from Harry's plate " I'm sorry but it's just your reaction is worth it "

" everytime ?"

" yep everytime. Anyways you were asking ?" He asked stuffing the croissant in his mouth.

" yeah- I mean you and Blaise have only been dating for what like 10 month's-"

" 11-"

"- right 11 months and you already know you're at the holiday card phase ?"

" what do you mean?" Ron asked genuinely confused

" you know what I mean. Every relationship have like it's stages you know, like giving your door keys, getting a mixed casette or the honeymoon phase and that finally fancy dinner phase where you know it's headed somewhere. So like you guys are already in the holiday card phase, didn't it feel fast to you guys? Like you're sending it out to families and stuff, it's like making it very official " Harry explained.

Ron smiled weirdly at him like he didn't get his point then shifted forward " Harry- we're not in a romantic comedy, it's all real. I get it there are stages in a relationship but it doesn't mean you have to do it in certain amount of months. When me and Blaise started going out it was already weird and awkward but fantastic at the same time, it didn't feel like our relationship had to have stages. We really like each other, hell we love each other and whether we end up together forever or not doesn't matter because we're here right now and honestly nothing has felt more right than doing that with him. It's like the most perfect thing"

Harry gazed at him for a few moments, letting his word's sink in. It made sense. All of it. Relationships doesn't necessarily have to have stages or steps for how fast or how slow it's going, it just have to keep going, that's all that matters.

" so you think me and Draco should-"

" nope, too soon" Ron replies stuffing Harry's left-over croissant.

" but it's been more than 2 years, almost 3 in a few weeks, how is it soon ? It feels right with him too you know- it's not just your relationship that's bloody perfect " Harry mumbled the last part.

" not a competition mate" Ron incoherently replied but years after being with him, Harry knew every word.

" really, soon?"

" see, it's not just soon- it's about whether Draco is in that place too or not and I don't think he is " Ron explained.

No matter how much it hurt Harry to even think that Draco was not there, he tried not to let it effect him or even think of it but seeing couples after couples all day and receiving holiday cards from all around the office, world even, it was hard not thinking of Draco, his boyfriend of over 2 years wasn't in that place yet and it frustrated him because he had no right to be frustrated with Draco because he had his right to think that way. It should not have mattered so much to Harry but he had known Draco for all his life, been great friends/ flirtatious friends before they even started dating, how were they not in the holiday card phase? The more Harry thought of it, the more it made him angry and upset making him ramble on to random people about they were in the phase of moving in together literally an year after they started dating and sleeping together on first date but they were not yet to the holiday card-

"- it's just a sweet gesture, how could he not be there ?" Harry asked, stressed.

" I don't know sir, I'm just here to deliver the parcel and I know this isn't the right place for me anymore" the courier guy replied. Harry stared at him and groaned and asked him to leave straight away after that.

He spent the rest of his day disappointed, frustrated, agitated, upset and in desperation to know in his office until it was time for him to leave and he went home as soon as possible without knowing why.

Upon reaching home he found out that Draco was running a couple minutes late and would be back after a few minutes or more so he had the flat to himself and he decided to use that time to take a bath, think about Draco and the phase, then get out of the bath and think about it again. This went for a long time, even after Draco had come home and they were sitting for dinner and Draco was talking about something that happened at work today, that's when Harry realised he couldn't take it anymore. He had to break the ice.

He immediately stopped eating, pushed his plate away and turned to Draco " we're not in the holiday card phase ?"

" what ?" Draco asked confused out of his mind.

" we're not in the holiday card phase. Sure Ron and Blaise can be in the holiday card after only 10 months-"

" 11 "

"- you- 11 months of dating but we can't be. Why is it so hard? Why are we not in that phase when it was perfectly fine when we slept on the first date or it was perfectly fine for you to give me a promise necklace 6 month's into dating or it perfectly fine when talked about me to your mother really early on in the relationship or it was perfectly fine when we ran away together for a while when we had only been together for few months. We've done all sort of random bullshit at the most irrational times without caring whether we should've done it or not or not even thinking whether it's slow or fast then why think of it now? Why aren't we an holiday card couple when we're so fucking serious about our relationship that I'd much rather die than being alone or without you, and I know you love me as much as I do, then why aren't we sending out holiday cards to family or friends ?" Harry rambled on in one breath and Draco did all and stared.

He raised his eyebrows and softly pushed his plate away and stood up from the table, walking away.

" what ? So you're not going to reply to me now ?" Harry interjected but it seemed from his point of view that Draco was searching something in his work bag and when he finally did, he Returned back to the table with a small envelope in his hand.

" open it " Draco commanded.

Despite the irrationally that ran wild in Harry's mind, he took the envelope and opened it.

"- holiday card" he looked at the card with Harry and Draco's picture from their first Christmas together in awe " you got it made "

" yeah- now if you weren't going to throw a temper at me I'd had kept it a surprise but apparently you're not very good with them so be ready for an already planned proposal " Draco replied casually gulping his water.

Harry immediately looked up, morbid shock over his face "pr-proposal ?"

" what? There isn't going to be one? Don't tell me you're wasting my time-"

" No- it's just-"

" you never expected it ?" Draco smiled and Harry shook his head.

Draco got up from his own seat and sat down on Harry's lap, running his hand behind his ear " you really thought we weren't in that phase when I've always been ready to give my heart out to you. I love you Harry, more than anyone or anything I've ever loved in my life before, even my own self- you really think I'm going to let you- an absolute delicious man walk away from me, hell no"

They chuckled together. Harry took hold of Draco's waist and turned him so he was straddling him and kissed him over the lips " I'm sorry I doubted you"

" it's okay- it's only fair, I'm hard to read" Draco shrugged.

" or you're really good with surprises ?" Harry praised him.

" yeah that too " Draco agreed and laughed along with Harry.

Day 5- some unsaid lovestories || Day 7- wind in your hair

HP DE-STRESS DECEMBER REQUEST OPEN

MASTERLIST

No matter how things have been I want to thank you all for still being here with me, whether I talk to you all or not. I appreciate you all giving me a chance and just staying with me. Your kindness and support means the world to me and this page is nothing without every single one of you, so thank you. Thank you so much for 600 followers.

Much love 💜🦋

Man in the sketch

Day 2- Butterbeer for @hpdestress December fluff fest

Typical December.

The snowfall outside took on slight of a rage before anyone could have even thought of an aid making them drench in mist and snowfall covering their eyelashes but Harry had been cleverer than the rest and saw it coming. It was typical of December especially around the holiday time to take such a turn but It didn't stop him from spending his afternoon in the Mama bouchè cafe at diagon alley.

" Its snowing pretty strong outside" Merwin, the waiter who was cleaning the table next to Harry said.

" same thing, another year" Harry chuckled.

Merwin nodded knowing he was right " How's the Sketches coming along ?"

Harry titled his head towards him " Honestly I got fed up of doing at home so I'm going to draw here today- sort of typical Before Christmas December here I guess-"

" or you can always draw me " Merwin posed with his right leg behind the left leg and leaning over the table.

Harry softly laughed then shook his head " As good of a poser you are I still have some incomplete works to do"

" Then I'll go back to my boring job" Merwin distastefully nodded then bid his byes.

Harry had known Merwin for long enough now to know that he apparently didn't like his job that much but the money here helped him pay his rent and his college fees which worked hand in hand. And despite that Harry would suggest him to leave often, he would only end the statement with " to get something , you gotta lose something. In this case, I lose my beautiful charm ". Merwin was an absolutely amazing guy but so out of reach for Harry and not because he couldn't date him or had anything wrong but Merwin was a couple years younger than Harry and that made them see each other more as brother-friend's than someone you'd date.

Harry took out from his bags the folders and files and lastly his case of brushes, pens and pencil and began working on his incomplete works. As something once his healer adviced him, to distract himself with something new once, he took it seriously and eventually created more than just a simple hobby for art. Now he drew almost every hour of his day he wasn't working, even on the trains he used to travel. To his friends it seemed a bit frustrating because he spent more time with his Sketchbook than them but at the end of the day, Art made Harry happy no matter how or why, it just did and he was glad that he had at least one thing nobody could take from him.

Halfway through the drawings he was doing, he had craned his neck to straighten his posture up when he looked around the cafe and noticed the guy on the other side of the table, his back facing Harry but there was something about the elegant way he was sitting that he reminded Harry of someone very vividly. The straight posture, elbows over the table and one leg crossed over another reminded him of Someone so strongly yet he couldn't pin who. Before he even knew he was abandoning his works and started a new drawing, of the guy sitting across tables.

Harry's hand worked faster by each second and his finger's running on mile high. His eyes moved from the man to his sketch book too fast that it seemed like he was only catching glimpses until the moment the man's head turned a little and Harry was able to notice the sweet, perfect shape of his nose, the pointed nose and the shape of his lips, very blurred but a peek was enough for Harry that he might be the most handsome man he had ever laid his eyes upon. He stared at him for a little too long and then longer than that, finding himself lost until the man turned again and Harry went back to his Sketchbook and erased the side of the head and started drawing the shape of his nose and small portion of lips he caught his eyes on. He worked very carefully on the miniscule details when suddenly he realised he needed to look again to just notice something but when he raised his head, he was gone.

" This is from the guy you were drawing" Merwin said with a smile and kept the mug of Butterbeer in front of Harry.

" who ?"

" him "Merwin pointed Harry's drawing.

Harry looked at the empty chair again and then sighed, he'd probably never see him again.

" did he say anything else ?" Harry asked

Merwin shrugged " I don't think so, just told me to give you a Butterbeer"

" Do you at least know his name ?" Harry asked

Merwin shook his head, apologising right after.

Harry shook his head too, giving him a smile.

Over the next few days as Harry visited the cafe often, stopped by to ask of that guy, even sat for long hours in hopes to see him again but it didn't happen. All his attempts unfortunately were failing and he couldn't do anything about it until the day when Harry was alone in the cafe and Merwin had taken a loo break when the door chimed and Harry instantly looked up. The man's head was covered in a scarf and hat but he knew it was him, he knew he was the man from the Sketches.

Harry had stared at him as he came and sat down, his back facing him and taking off his hat and the scarf. Harry could swore it was him but he will couldn't see him.

Just one look, one look is all he was asking for.

But as this day Harry started working on the eyes he saw as the man had walked into the cafe he felt the chair on his side being pulled and someone settling down.

" Butterbeer ?" The man smiled.

Harry smiled back " I knew it was you"

" of course it was me" He laughed lightly

" it's always you " Harry mumbled smiling.

" it's always me " he repeated.

" so Butterbeer ?"

" Sure " Harry smiled.

Day 1 - the decorations disaster|| Day 3- All I want For Christmas Is You

HP-DE STRESS DECEMBER REQUEST OPEN

MASTERLIST

Wind in your hair

Day 7 - Ice skating for hp de-stress feat @hpdestress

It was a start.

I knew it. Watching you with lingering glances was just a start but I told my traitorous heart to keep itself shut and move on with it but I knew it was just a start. A start of all.

I knew I shouldn't had watched you like a crow, noticing every hour of your every day but I kept telling my heart to put shut but it only induced in me more adrenaline to see you, every second of every hour. I wasn't watching you a creepy way as someone would misunderstand, I was merely curious, at first at least. Watching you watch the book shelf attentively, your eyes going down like a ladder for the book of just your choice or while you were watching your teammates fly in the air so high, I could see you yearned for it but you had lost your incredible confidence or while you were reading the notice board looking for something new like a new letter would be posted for you there or just watching you walk across the hall with your hands in your pocket tucked away in the warmth. Here's the strange trick though, I didn't want to watch you, never by choice in the beginning but it was as though I had a sense everytime you were around me and I would not be able to help myself from watching you, so when I eventually gave up from trying to ignore my heart, I watched you and it was just a start, a start to knowing there's so much more to you than I had ever cared to venture.

I knew you didn't hate me anymore, you smiled at me like you never used to before, I knew you didn't hate me but I didn't know if you liked me either. I could sense that you knew that I was watching you or maybe it was just Paranoia who kept telling me that you knew that I was watching but if you did know that I was watching you, then I think maybe you enjoyed it, not the attention but just being cared enough to be looked at. I know it now. And if you didn't know I was watching you, then I think maybe you should've.

Until the days when I first started realising that I was watching you more than doing any other thing, I never really thought about it or I didn't allow myself to think about it but seeing you do the littlest of things and smiling after small achievements made my heart beat faster in my chest even though I tried to avoid it. I thought that would be the most of it, my heart skipping a beat when I watched you smile but I didn't know there were so many levels of heart skipping faster and I only knew of it then when I followed you to the forest one late night after having being welcomed into a Narnia of insomnia. I carefully followed you without your knowledge and saw you like I did everyday but that night it was different. It left me curious as to what you would be doing at the lake in the Middle of the night but soon enough from shelter of the tree I saw you walk into the river, but not into, Over the river. I stared more carefully until I didn't need to anymore when you slid through graciously over the lake. You were ice skating and it was perhaps the most perfect thing I had laid my eyes upon, you ice skating. The way you slid over the lake with your shoes Making the scratching sound and your arms open to feel the air pass through you. I knew that you liked it because I had never seen you smile that much. It made you so happy, as if it made you feel alive. It made you happy to just be there and I was happy knowing I was seeing your happiness until it suddenly Struck me that I was watching you, not just tonight but everyday and perhaps you still didn't have a knowledge of it which made it more upsetting because I was watching you feel alive, feeling happier than you do in a day and maybe there's a reason why you keep your smile hidden all day so no-one would see but Only yourself, but I was breaking the boundaries and watching you be happy when maybe it could've so easily been a thing that you didn't want me to know it. So I walked away that night, hoping it would be the last but it had just been the start of something so tragically beautiful that I yet don't know where it's headed but the feeling of being around you and skating with you over thin ice had made me feel more alive that I ever had, even with the air in my lungs and heart beating loudly in my chest.

So you make me feel alive Draco Malfoy, I don't know why or how yet, but it's just a start I suppose and I'll stay till the end.

Day 6- in "that" phase || Day 8 - crimson morning

HP DE-STRESS DECEMBER REQUEST OPEN

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Coming Home

Day 4 - Fireplace/ floo 

The low hymn of the music played, the wine already set on the table and the food ready out of kitchen and over to the dinning table. Harry set up the laptop on the table, an evident but perfect distance from the plate and himself. He shuddered a breath, fixing his collar one last time then just for a good measure turned on the camera to see how he looked and how did the lighting look.

Apparently not so good.

He got up and set a fire in the fire place behind him which immediately enlightened the room and he checked the lighting in the camera once again. Satisfied this time, he settled down into the chair and logged into his skype and called Draco.

The bud-boop sound continued for a while until finally Draco picked up the call.

" Hi- Draco-uh- Dray- your camera's off" Harry said first.

" oh- shit- right " and the screen immediately lit up after that and Draco became visible on the screen.

Draco paused for a while just smiling at Harry that he was almost scared that his video was stuck but soon he spoke up " Hi " it was a content smile that made Harry smile himself.

" Hey " Harry grinned.

" Ready for the date ?" Draco asked lightly chuckling.

Harry nodded " I made sausage and kale lasagna "

Draco smiled knowing it was his favourite " I made Indian- your favourite- chicken curry and rice "

He smiled and without any further delay they started acting out how they did when they weren't on a virtual date, talking about all sorts of things, even thing's that didn't make sense and the most random complaint about people the other didn't know exist.

45 minutes later they had pushed aside the food and Harry was leaning over the table with one of how elbow on the table drinking his wine with the other hand.

" and so I told him he can take his tiny rats ass and work with someone else who gave him attention like a baby- I mean we were supposed to be working together and he completely relied on me for all of the things- it's like being with baby only much worse " Draco groaned.

Harry let out a low chuckle " I mean what did you expect from Tyler anyways- remember the time when he cracked up a joke about a baby and nobody laughed and he was pissed at everyone because no one did-"

" I know- He really needs to grow up. It's just annoying at this point and you won't believe there's two of them" Draco gave a big eye roll.

Harry eyes widened in a surprise " there's two of them " he laughed

" Yes- wasn't one enough, now I have to work with stupid Miller too- he's even got an annoying voice " Draco added.

Harry shook his head laughing " Oh Dray, poor you"

" exactly- pity me, poor me" Draco sighed.

A little while later after Harry was done talking about the new album of the backstreet boys and how they had really outdid themselves but Harry's favourite was still Incomplete by backstree and a bit more of how Harry only liked slow song's like those while Draco liked more the stuff of Fall out boys and Beatles or Greenday, that was until Draco caught sight behind Harry and saw the newly built fireplace.

" you got it repaired?"

" actually- I repaired it myself- well ever since you're gone, I don't have much to do so I have ample time on the weekend's- so- I did it myself- I had nothing better to do and nothing special happened at work" Harry explained shrugging right after.

Draco sighed then leaned back in his chair " Well it looks great"

Harry sensed his tone and added " And ?"

" And what ?" Draco questioned back

" you know there's more to that sentence, you know I know it too " Harry replied.

Draco sighed then leaned forward over his own table and slumped down, his chin over his crossed arms in a soft look " it's just sometimes I worry"

" Worry, about what?" Harry asked frowning.

" about us- you- it's not like I'm insecure or anything but it's just I worry that we won't have enough time for each other or how I'm not there with you worries every second of everyday-"

" but I'm absolutely fine- there's nothing going on-"

" I know " Draco dragged on " I just- I want us to be together- I'm afraid I won't be home for Christmas. With the way everything is going around I feel like I'll have to stay around a bit longer"

Harry remained silent for a while. They had been doing long distance relationship for about 3 month's ever since Draco had to work at the countryside of Britain on some other case. They understood the work was important but this distance was killing both of them, not being able to see each other was just too much.

" it'll be fine- we'll spend some other time together- let's say when you come back home that is whenever you do we'll do a Christmas theme date" Harry said as a compensation

" it still won't be Christmas and it won't be the same Harry- I- I want to be with you- like all the time. I know I say we'll work through it and that I can do the long distance but I can't"

" but you said you could ?" Harry countered.

" I know I said I could and I can but I don't want to Harry. I promised myself I wouldn't tell you this but this is killing me- not being able to see you is ripping me apart, knowing that I don't go back home to your arms frustrates me and over everything it upsets me that I can't be there for you in anything- literally like last month when you got sick and couldn't move from the bed for 4 days- it broke me- I know you told me not to worry but I swear I was thinking only of you. It was killing me then and it's still killing me and I'm always Afraid you'll get sick or something would happen to you and I won't be there- fuck- I love you so much that it's just making it so difficult for me to not being able to see you " Draco inhaled sharply after that.

Harry stared at him through the screen, he Never knew Draco was bottling up so much. He knew the long distance must be as hard on him as it's on Harry but he didn't know that not being with each other worried him so much that he didn't focus on anything but Harry even if there was nothing. He didn't like to admit but it was true for him too. He wanted to be supportive of Draco, to his job and everything else but he never wanted to do long distance not because he didn't have faith in their relationship but not being with each other for whole 6 month's or more just messed up with his functioning. Whether he believed it or not, Draco was the reason for his survival.

" I miss you too Dray but it is what it is- no matter how much it's kills you or me- its something we have to do- I want to be supportive of every decision you make as long as it benefits you-"

" benefit me at the cost of being away from you- not worth it- fuck it I'm coming Home-"

" wait what- No- Draco-" but he had already disconnected. He knew Draco could be very impulsive at times, he could be irrational even but something like this had never happened before and it worried Harry more than the sane amount that he started pacing back and forth across the room biting his nail trying to think of how he could make up an excuse for Draco's absence at work because Draco definitely wouldn't explain well but his rail of thoughts came to an end as soon as the fire place lit up with emerald green sparks and Draco ran across and immediately hugged Harry, who didn't hug back.

" Are you out of your head ?" Harry snapped pushing Draco away a Little bit to look at him.

" yes- I'm out of my head-"

" Draco this isn't the time for a joke- go back and we'll work on making an excuse for your communication- and-"

" No harry-"

" yes "

" No " Draco said louder this time meaning he felt strongly about this.

" but your work?" Harry sounded defeated.

" can wait. I don't care if that stupid job benefits me or not or if it would do me any good or would work for my promotion or if it was the one thing I wanted to do my whole life- I- don't- care " Draco explained

" you don't ?"

" No I don't- nothing is worth this Harry. I don't want to choose to be away from you. I meant it when I said that the distance was killing me, it was, so much. I don't want to be away from you no matter how much better a job might be- nothing is worth losing you or being away from or seeing you only a stupid screen. Work might've been my priority once but now- it's you- it's been you for a very long time now so the world could fuck itself but I'll stay right here with you and I won't leave- because- you're my safe place Harry, the only one I want to come back home to, and not some gray coloured hotel room" Draco explained.

Harry gazed at him, his expression changing from worried one to soft look of love. He chose to stay, with Harry. Was there anything more he could ever want in his life.

" so you'll stay ?" He asked smiling.

" for always " Draco smiled back.

Harry finally hugged Draco and just in time kissed him over the lips confessing his love for him. At the end of the day, they could be world's apart but there was nowhere else they would rather be but with each other, even if that meant getting fired from your dream job.

Day 3- All I Want For Christmas Is You || Day 5- Some unsaid lovestories

For @hpdestress fluff December fest.

HP DE-STRESS DECEMBER REQUEST OPEN

MASTERLIST

Picture in the Wallet

Request by @flakeyakey : Draco being obsessed with kittens

Everyone knew, to say Draco wasn't as subtle as he pretended himself to be. Underneath all the layers of his leather jacket and floral shirts and the rugged jeans he wore so often along with the tattoos scarred over his body and the mean boy earring hooked on single ear, he was a softie. He was as soft as the pashmina shawl and despite his attempts to convince others he wasn't soft, he failed repeatedly. It was like he'd walk around the halls, the street's, literally anywhere with his chin held high and the hair that didn't move even a little bit from the Initial position but when left alone he was just another boy who liked fuzzy socks and soft pink sweaters he bought online and a good hot cup of cocoa in his bear shaped mug he hid from everybody but literally everyone knew. One look at the kittens and he'd melt like a chocolate in the microwave.

It happened really early on during Harry's date with Draco when he discovered that Draco was terrible at trying to control himself from being around kittens when they had got a weekend off and went to the beach. If Harry vividly remembers, he went down to the truck to get the left over basket and upon walking nearer to the place he saw Draco cuddling and rubbing the back of the kittens ear he found around the bushes in the back but when Harry had finally arrived near him, Draco had refused of having even seen any kitten. Harry had let it be assuming that it was perhaps just because they had Just started going out.

The second time Harry secretly noticed Draco being lovable with kittens was when they had decided to set up a late evening date at the park. Apparently due to halloween the work load in the office had been too much that they had barely been able to see each other and so they had decided a little outdoorsy date for a while which however Harry still came by late but he didn't regret it when he saw Draco playing with the kitten behind the tree and laughing and giggling. Harry had stood away for a while just watching Draco for a few more moments locking it away how his face just lit up when he was around kittens. Harry assumed that I might be possible that Draco like dogs or puppies too but his questions were answered that he wasn't as fond of the dogs as much as he was with kittens, Harry could work with that. However Draco still refused of being around any animals.

The third, forth and the fifth time Harry noticed was when he deliberately ran by late to the morning run. After having discovered that Draco liked being around kittens, Harry would try to find any opportunity to see him with kittens as much as possible but it seemed as if that to Draco his love for kittens wasn't supposed to shared with or told, like a secret love only the kittens and him knew and Harry admired that but he wished that sometimes Draco would stop pretending to be such a toughie or to pretend to be strong all the time but no matter how many times Harry pointed at a kitten while on their runs or their dates or anywhere else, Draco would just shrug as if he didn't want anything to do with them. Harry waited for him to tell one day but an year went by and Draco still didn't tell Harry about his Love for kittens. Now, Harry was a patient man and a caring man but he'd do anything to see the smile on Draco's face he saw secretly when he was the kittens, so, on the date after they had celebrated their one year anniversary a week ago, he surprised him.

" where are we going ?" Draco asked Linking his arms with those of Harry's and shoving them in his pocket.

" you'll see " Harry smiled.

They took a few more turns and walked a couple more blocks when Harry finally spoke up.

" remember how I told you I had a post anniversary gift for you ?" Harry asked.

Draco nodded " I told you that you didn't had to get me anything though"

" I want to- anyways- I know that it is secret between you and youself but I always see you around them and I couldn't help it so-"

" animal shelter ?" Draco asked as he looked up at the sign.

Harry nodded " Don't be mad at me alright- my friend donates here and he told me about this place and if it feels like I'm invading your privacy I'm sorry but I just want you to have fun and not trying to conceal yourself " Harry spoke softly.

" I don't conceal myself " Draco shrugged even though he knew he was lying.

Harry smiled at him then linked their fingers and Walked inside the place.

" You must be Wally- I'm Harry, we talked over the phone " Harry said to the guy standing near the entrance.

" oh of course- I can't thank you enough for-"

" don't mind- we're just here to be with them"

Wally nodded grinning " right this way " and led them to the back.

" Are you mad ?" Harry asked as he turned his head toward Draco.

Draco shook his head but Harry knew he was upset that he found out.

When they finally it out in the back Wally had already managed to release a few kittens and puppies in the back running around behind each other and Harry didn't fail to capture Draco's lips curving a little when he saw those animal's.

" it's for you- you can stay here as Long as you want" Harry smiled.

" Harry-"

" it's my gift" Harry nodded. Wally left them alone.

Draco turned to the animals then to Harry " you know I'm not happy you figured this out"

" well you won't be happy to know that Basically everyone knows you're a softie" Harry chuckled watching as Draco kneeled down and picked one of the nearest kitten and rubbing it's nose lightly chuckling at the kitten.

" Well- if everyone knows I can't help it- awh- look at you" Draco swooned and this time he sat down cross legged over the ground cuddling another kitten in his arms and kissing the top of its head.

Harry watched as Draco cooed and cuddled with as many kittens as possible and he had to say he had never seen Draco more happy, more alive. Harry had always known that behind the facade that Draco had managed to put up every day without a single fault, he knew there was a part of him that yearned for more but as Harry sat there with puppies in his own hands and watching Draco with kittens, he realised this was probably one of his favourite memories from every moment they spent together. They had amazing moments, not deal broken but this right here watching him completely lose himself with the kittens and laughing in his own self, kissing the kittens and scolding them even and then taking in his arms and apologizing to it, Harry had never felt himself falling more in love with this man than right now. He clicked a picture of Draco with the Polaroid he carried when he wasn't watching and safely kept it inside his wallet knowing whenever he'd go from now, he'd be with him and that worked pretty well for Harry even though it was this moment that he knew he probably never even wanted to walk away from him, ever but even if someday they did separate, Draco would still be there, in a picture in his wallet.

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