Title: Hidden in the Shadows
Author: Keikokin
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: H/D
Rating: PG
Warnings: Ficlet Fluff, OOC, Angsty, Cracky
A/N: Thanks for the challenge Laney. I hope its okay. It flew out the old
fingertips and once again is longer than I intended. Oops again.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the registered copyright of J.K. Rowling. No
maliciousness is intended in any way toward the actors/actresses in the series.
This is for entertainment only.

"Scar-um, Harry I'm home!" Draco Malfoy swept into their modest London flat in
a swirl of black smoke that opened the door with a slam. He closed the door
when he was once again corporeal, hanging up his black cape and Death Eater mask
in a suit bag, before zipping it closed and out of view.

Harry entered the small hallway and smiled. "I missed you."
"I missed you too. You wouldn't believe how tiring tortu-um, I mean exercising
prisoners can be." Draco shook his head to clear it of his day as a Death
Eater. "It was a bit of a day. Would you mind making me a drink? I need to
shower off this-um." He gestured to his robes.

Harry looked at the crimson stains of blood on Draco's robe and rolled his eyes.
"I thought I asked you to start showering at the Manor. Couldn't you even do a
scurgify?"

"Yes, but there was a line and I stayed late in the dungeon. And this fabric
doesn't react well to that spell. It won't happen again." Draco whined batting
his eyes at Harry in hopes for forgiveness and perhaps sex later on in the
evening.

Harry snorted, very unsympathetically. "I've heard that before." He began
shoving Draco toward the shower.

"I'm telling the truth Harry! There were worse cases than me, I assure you."
Draco sniffed, while trying to get away from Harry's pushing and shoving. "This
is rather undignified Harry. I can walk by myself."

"I really do not want to know about your day. We were going to leave our day
jobs behind our front door, remember? Please Draco can you try harder for me?"
Harry kissed Draco on the forehead, which was still blessedly clean.

Draco smiled lovingly over his shoulder at his secret husband, "Yes, dear."
Harry cuffed him upside the head for his tone of voice, before shoving him into
the bathroom. While he was waiting, Harry decided to get some Order of the
Phoenix paperwork done. Taking over the Order had become a full time job, but
on top of that Harry was dealing with the Ministry.

It had been while he was there at the Ministry; he became reunited with Draco
Malfoy and sparks flew. They had been keeping their relationship quiet ever
since. It was a daily battle filled with electricity. Some things had changed
since Hogwarts, but not everything. It had not changed the heat between them.

Love is blind. Or so they say. It definitely was willing to be blind to certain
things; in order to have what it wanted. So Harry and Draco had bonded
secretly. None of their friends or family knew. The flat had the same spells
as Grimmauld Place, so there was no concern about being found out. They simply
tried to leave work at work. But it had a nasty tendency to carry over.

It was difficult on days when Draco came home covered in blood, or other things
that Harry simply refused to think about. Harry shook his head of the images,
put away the papers and started on dinner. The mundane activity always helped
him settle down.

When Draco came back out, he was wrapped in his favorite housecoat. He came and
wrapped his arms around Harry from behind. "So how was your day dear?"

"Meetings all day," Harry shrugged. He continued to carve up the roast for
dinner.

Draco settled his head on his shoulder. He sniffed and kissed Harry's neck. "You
want a sharper knife? I have one in my cloak." Draco offered.

"One that you used to do God knows what? No thanks," Harry replied with a
shiver.

"Gryffindor," Draco wrapped his arms tighter around his husband.
"You love me anyway, you big old bad guy." Harry teased. "You're nothing but a
smoke and mirrors act."

"I'm dark and exciting and dangerous, everything you love in a man," Draco
teased right back. "Who knew the Golden Boy would be so into games? Taunting me
of all people? "

"How many times have I told you about that name, Malfoy Junior? Hmm?" Harry put
down the utensils, turning to face Draco just in time to see the handsome blonds
face screw up in disgust. He never liked being compared to his father. It was
one reason his hair was kept short.
Harry started to giggle when Draco licked a broad swipe over his throat. "Who
knew you were so into cuddling and hand holding? What would the robe kissers say
then?" He playfully swatted at Draco.
"You're right. We're not talking anymore about work, except you need to know
that you will be late getting in tomorrow." Draco looked seriously at Harry. He
cupped his cheek and brought them even closer together. "I love you. Please
listen to me."

Harry breathed deeply to still his racing heart. It always excited him to hear
that Draco loved him. But when he followed it up like that, it meant his life
was in danger. He knew the tone by now. "I love you too and I have paperwork I
need to get done anyway. I probably won't make it in until 10." He wasn't about
to admit that the idea of danger was sexy as hell. No doubt his husband knew it
already.

Draco hummed watching Harry's thoughts cross his face. "Eleven, should do. Oh
and can you pick up some biscuits before you come home tomorrow? "

Harry took a step back so their joined hands stretched between them. "Big Bag
of Bones is going to blow the Ministry down?"

Chuckling at his husband's nickname for Voldemort, Draco shook his head, "Yes,
the Bird Brain Flock will be there I'm sure, after the fact. Why is your side
always late? Oh and don't forget the biscuits, big bird."

Draco was suddenly jumping the other way as Harry was trying to stab him with
one finger in a very ticklish part of his ribs. "Bother, Bother!"

They ducked and dodged playfully before winding up twined around each other on
the floor. It was a good thing Draco had insisted on very plush carpet. Draco
managed to catch Harry's wrists and pinned him to the floor, with his arms over
his head. They panted forehead to forehead, looking each other in the huge,
darkened pupils of the other. Lust soon took over.

Magic kept the roast from getting ruined. It also kept the two men going for
hours. It was a wonderful thing. And it carried the love of the two men from
the ordinary to the spectacular; the very love that had to be kept hidden and
protected from those who would pull them apart `for their own good'.

They woke up the next day feeling refreshed and relaxed. Draco cuddled Harry a
bit longer than usual to remind him to stay home, but eventually he had to
leave. Harry stole Draco's housecoat and walked him out to the door.

Draco turned and wrapped his arms around his husband. "I don't want to leave."

Harry chuckled wrapping his arms around his husband's neck and offered. "You
could kidnap me and hold me prisoner."

"We were saving that for our anniversary," Draco reminded him. He thought about
adding ` bird brain' to that but thought better of it at last minute.

"Fine then, how about today you chase me around London looking very suspicious?"
Harry winked.

Draco's eyes twinkled. "And if I catch you from time to time?"
"Well, you've have to interrogate me then won't you?" Harry curled a finger
around Draco's collar pulling him down for a smoldering kiss. Draco and Harry
kissed for several minutes before Draco reluctantly pulled away. He grabbed his
cloak and mask from where they hung and put on the cloak.

From behind him Harry sighed causing Draco to turn back with a sly smile. "I'm
starting in Regent's Park." Big Ben sounded the start of their day. "Try not to
get lost big bird." Before Harry could tackle him for the nickname (thank
goodness he didn't know the muggle connection to it), he disappeared in a column
of black smoke that quickly vanished.

Harry erected concealment charms across their flat, just in case someone got in
they would not know who lived there. He hated keeping their love in the
shadows. Hopefully, one day they could put this all behind them and simply be
Draco and Harry. Not Scarhead and Malfoy Junior, nor the Golden Boy and the Ice
Prince. There would be no more having their friends trying to play matchmaker
either. They made their own garden in the rain and it was their love.

It was worth protecting.