Work Text:
Draco was just putting the final touches on his latest article when Luna walked inside, a big smile on her face.
"Oh Draco! I'm so glad you didn't go home yet. I have a new job for you,” she said, while waving around the papers in her hand.
"And what would that be, Miss Lovegood?" he asked, looking up.
"Silly, it's Luna, not Miss Lovegood. And you get to interview the only existing thestral breeder in the whole Wizarding World. He’s finally agreed to an interview for the Quibbler!" At this point, she placed the papers on his desk.
He read through them quickly. "Luna, this is in Germany, Sauerland. I don't speak German."
"I know. Don't worry, there's a hotel you can stay at, including meals. It’s truly beautiful there, with the mountains and all. You can stay as long as you need. Well, up to two weeks, since we do need to print the article!" the blonde answered, apparently ignoring the fact that he didn't speak a word of German, yet was being asked to go to Germany for a story.
"Alright,” he agreed. “But when do I leave?" .
"Tomorrow morning. Don't worry, you can take the portkey on the way back." With those final words, she was walking away again, a quick "good luck" added for good measure.
Draco sighed, shaking his head, before deciding to get some questions ready to ask the man. According to the file Luna gave him, he would be the first reporter ever to interview him, and it would also be a great honor for the Quibbler to print it. Something he wouldn't ruin.
After his house arrest was complete -the Ministry's punishment for him as he had been a child and forced into it all- he had needed a job and a place to stay. The Ministry had taken away the complete Malfoy fortune; the Manor they had allowed him to keep, but he would rather sleep on the street than step foot in there again. He eventually gave the grounds to Hermione Granger, after he had torn down the entire building. Right now she was running a house elf orphanage, for those who didn't have a master or mistress or had been abused.
Luna had been the one to give him a chance, offering him a position to work with her at the Quibbler. At first he had been hesitant, but he quickly learned that he loved to interview people and write stories. So now, three years later, he was still there and now, apparently, going to Germany.
He looked through the files one last time, to imprint the Apparition coordinates in his brain, before leaving his office and going home. This was going to be more difficult than most interviews. But with a bit of luck the thestral breeder would speak English and he'd be done within a day.
**
Draco placed his hands on his knees and leaned forward, panting with exertion.
He was on his way to the Wizarding World's only thestral breeder for the interview. Even though Luna had given him the apparition coordinates and told him the landscape would be mountains and forests, she had failed to mention that the thestral breeder apparently lived on top of one of the mountains.
He took one deep breath before hiking further up the mountain. He hadn't dared to try to Apparate as he didn't know where exactly he would land or which wards would be around the building he was going to. When he was only ten metres away from the building - which reminded him of the Burrow - he could feel the shiver of the wards as he passed.
Once in front of the door, he raised his hand and knocked.
"Coming," a voice called out, and truly that should have been Draco's first clue. Then the door opened and he was greeted by the sight of Harry Potter. He noticed the prat still had a bird's nest for hair, but he actually had filled out nicely.
"Ah, Draco. Luna mentioned you would be coming by for her interview."
"Potter, what are you doing here? Wait, you're the thestral breeder?" The words tumbled out of Draco's mouth as he realized what was happening .
The other man just laughed and held the door open for him. Once inside, he was taken to what Draco guessed was the living room, but it was full of raw meat hanging from the ceiling and books about thestrals.
Both of them sat down in a chair, while Draco still looked around. Once he finally stilled his curiosity, he looked back at Potter, grabbing his quill and parchment from his bag.
"So, Potter," he started, only to be cut off.
"Please, it's Harry. No one actually still calls me by my surname. At least not here. In articles I usually go by HJP or Prongs."
Draco swallowed, before starting over again.
"Alright, Harry then. Why did you choose this job?"
"Well, after the war I got tired of the press and the way everyone thought they knew me just because of the articles in the Prophet. I wanted to live in peace, so I moved here. An old man offered me a place to stay as long as I helped him with the care of his thestrals. As during Care of Magical Creatures in school I had found thestrals to be fascinating and kind creatures, I saw no harm in helping the man. So, he taught me everything he knew and, well... Yeah, now we're here."
Draco nodded, soaking in all the information before writing it down.
"I can imagine that, but I don't think we should mention the war part, right? If we do, people will probably know who you are."
Harry nodded, seeming to be thankful that Draco had understood the need to remain anonymous. Draco smiled, before asking the rest of his questions.
When they were through all the questions and Draco had all the information he needed, Harry seemed to ready himself to say something he wasn't sure about.
"Don't you want to stay a few days? Get to know more about my company and the job? Maybe even... help a bit?" Harry eventually asked, not quite looking him in the eye.
Draco pondered for a bit. It would be nice to be away from Britain for a bit and thestrals were one of the few animals he actually didn't mind. Also, he knew Luna wouldn't mind, as she had allotted him a maximum stay of two weeks. Especially not when he brought in all the extra information he knew he'd glean from staying the extra time. There was just one little problem.
"That would be lovely, but I didn't pack clothes or anything to stay for longer than a day."
"Oh, that's no problem. There’s a small village nearby where you can buy the necessary items and the rest you can borrow from me!" Harry was quick to offer.
"Alright then. I guess I can stay for a bit." Draco smiled.
"Great, let me show you where you can sleep."
"Alright."
He followed Harry as Harry stood, showing him the guest room, as he stepped inside he couldn't help but think this would be the first step towards something more.