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Closing the door behind him, Harry tiredly took off his Auror jacket and hung it. Wanting to avoid Draco’s wrath he carefully placed his shoes on the rack and made his way to the living room where Draco was waiting for him.
“Hey” Draco smiled at him, “I didn’t think you’d be back in time for dinner.”
Harry gave him a weary smile and looked around for someone. “Where-“ he began to ask but Draco answered him immediately.
“Greenhouse emergency apparently.” Draco sighed.
Harry gave him a confused frown.
“I didn’t know they existed either,” Draco replied.
He nodded and went straight to his bedroom, changed, and made his way downstairs. He thought about his day as he climbed down the stairs, hoping to pick up on something he might’ve missed. His thoughts slowed his pace until he didn’t even realise he stood motionless in the living room, looking deep in thought.
“Now are you just going to stand there or are you coming?” Draco’s voice called out.
Harry took slow and tired steps towards the couch where his boyfriend was watching the telly and sat down beside him. He isn’t sure what he was watching since in under a minute he had zoned out, his mind wandering off to the case that has been keeping him up for nights.
He wasn’t sure how long he had been thinking about it before Draco shook him and gave him a worried look, immediately switching the telly off.
“Alright, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Harry shook his head, “M’ just tired.”
“Potter you’ve been missing dinner for the last two nights and you haven’t squealed once since I put on Pretty Woman.” Draco gives him a ‘you want to argue with that logic?’ look.
Harry rubbed his eyes and sighed. He slouched and bent forward to place his elbows on his knees, placing his head in his hands. His head hurt too much to argue and he just wanted to cuddle and sleep. So, he laid down back on the couch and Draco instantly climbed over him, holding himself up on his forearms.
Harry and Draco’s relationship was no different now than when it was in Hogwarts. They still picked on each other, bantered, and teased one another but there was a lot more fondness in their snarks than words could describe, so soft moments like these were not often shared between them. But they both cherished them whenever they happened.
“Tell me.” Draco nudged him.
“It's just, this case, I’ve been trying and trying to get a lead, all of us have but we’re just stuck.” Harry rubbed his palms over his face, frustration seeping into his erratic motions, “We’re working our arses off, trying everything we can and getting nowhere!”
He looked like he was one second away from ripping his own hair so Draco immediately started combing his fingers through it.
As much as he liked to complain about his bird’s nest, they definitely made Harry fetching for him. Something about the untamed hair just screamed Harry to him, reflecting just like his wild green eyes, that Harry was unbroken and chaotic. And Draco wouldn’t change that for anything.
“Is this the one about the little girl?” Draco asked, still combing his fingers through Harry’s hair. He knew how cases about children would get Harry more worked up than usual.
Harry, throwing an arm over his eyes, nodded, not in the mood to explain it further.
“Alright, you’re taking tomorrow off”
“What?” he asked incredulously, almost sitting up. “I can’t just take the day off!”
“Yes, you can,” Draco replied, giving no further explanation.
“No Draco I can’t! We’re talking about a nine-year-old girl who’s been kidnapped and her family is worried sick. I have to go to work and I have to find her!” Harry was almost shaking with anger and pent-up frustration. He turned them over so that now he was on top and Draco under him, looking up at him with fond exasperation.
“Harry, you’re the best Auror they’ve had in ages.” Draco replied smoothly, “You are among the only ones that can find her. You just need to take a break and go back with a fresh perspective. Spend some time with us, we’ve hardly seen you all week.”
“Draco I-“ he started to argue.
“No.” Draco immediately pulled at his hair and gently pushed his head down on his chest. “Rest for now, I’ll wake you up before dinner.”
*
The warmth of his home hits him like a comforting hug after a chilly session at the greenhouse. Taking his coat and shoes off as fast as he could, he rushed to find his boyfriends. And found them in an adorable position: Harry sleeping on top of Draco on the couch while Draco stroked his hair, watching the telly.
Draco catches his eye instantly and offers him his sweetest smile that he reserves just for them. Neville couldn’t help but return it.
He went to them and crouched beside Draco. Draco promptly leaned in for a kiss which Neville was more than happy to give. Cupping his jaw, he kissed Draco tenderly but passionately before pulling away to cradle his fingers in Harry’s hair. He looked absolutely exhausted.
“The case about the nine-year-old girl?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
Draco nodded, “He won’t agree to take his day off tomorrow.”
“I’ll talk to him.” Neville got up and kissed Harry’s head before going to the kitchen. “Ready for dinner?”
“I’ll wake him up,” Draco said as he stretched himself.
Neville began to set the table after he was done with the kitchen. He knew Harry was going to be stubborn about taking a leave tomorrow but he knew Harry needed a break. He’s been overworked with this case for at least a fortnight but the last one week had taken a toll on him. He’s missed dinner almost every day and the bags under his eyes haven’t gotten any better.
Neville turned around when he heard footsteps approaching and was immediately engulfed in a hug by Harry. He was easily a few inches taller than Harry so he lowered his head to give him a kiss that Harry returned eagerly.
Pulling back, he gave Harry a warm smile. “Hey” he swayed them lightly, hands around Harry’s waist.
“Hey” Harry replied, “I missed you”
“Me too. Let's finish up dinner and we can get back to cuddling”
They sat at their respective seats on the table, Draco at the head seat and Neville and Harry on either side of him. They filled their plates and silently started eating. The silence went on for a while before Harry’s curiosity got the best of him.
“What was the greenhouse emergency Nev?” he asked, mouth full of mashed potatoes.
“Potter-” Draco tsked.
“It's alright Dray,” Neville chuckled as Draco continued under his breath about ‘mannerless barbarian’. “One of the flowers bloomed a little earlier than expected, we had to extract its nectar.”
Harry hummed and continued to eat. Draco nudged Neville with his elbow, prompting him to speak to Harry. He gave him a patient nod and cleared his throat.
“I’m really glad to have you for dinner today love. We’ve missed you.”
“I know, me too,” Harry said softly as he played with his food.
Neville could see the tension in his body. He carefully took Harry’s hand in his own across the table and stroked his knuckles with his thumb, letting him know that he wasn’t angry, just concerned.
“Harry, why don’t you take tomorrow off?” he said rather sadly. It hurt him to see Harry like this. Without his contagious laughter and all stress. He understood that the case was important to him and really, he won’t force Harry to take a day off if he insisted that he absolutely must go. He knew how Harry was.
But he also knew that no matter how much Draco put up a tough front for Harry, he worried about him the most. There were nights when Draco would stay awake to whisper reassurances to Harry when he was having a particularly hard time sleeping. So, for his sake, he had to try or Draco would be difficult to deal with.
“I can’t” Harry pleaded.
“Harry I know this is important to you, but love you have to get some sleep. Proper sleep Harry.” Neville sighed, “We’re worried about you.” He laced their fingers together and tried to explain his desperateness through his eyes.
Harry, to Neville's surprise, withdrew his hand and looked down at his lap. Neville looked at Draco, having no idea what to say. Harry usually caves in when he asks but this struck him as a shock. Draco, for his part, was actively ignoring the conversation and stabbing his peas.
“Neville, I understand, I really do but I can’t leave.” Harry sighed and pushed his plate away. “I promise I’ll take a few days off when the case is closed but I just can’t right now. I have to be there.”
Draco seemed to have finally had enough and put his fork on the plate, rather loudly and snapped. “Right because Auror Potter is the only one holding up the entire department, isn’t it?”
“Draco-”
“No Potter, you know what?” Draco quickly wiped his lips with the napkin and stood up, ready to leave, “You can go ahead and destroy yourself because of this case. I will not sit around waiting to pick up the pieces.”
Harry, Neville notices, is glaring back at Draco. These two are nothing if not stubborn and always at each other's throats. Neville sighs and before he could say anything to break the tension, Draco speaks up again.
“Your room hasn’t been used in a few days, pace all you want there.” And he storms off.
Grimmauld Place had too many rooms so they each got a room for themselves. They usually slept in the master bedroom with a bed big enough to fit all of them but sometimes while working late nights, having arguments, or in this case, stress, they would go and sleep in their respective rooms. What Draco said to Harry was a clear indication for him to sleep in his own room.
Shortly after Draco, Harry walks away too, leaving Neville to clean up the table. He reaches the master bedroom and finds Draco already tucked in and reading a book. He washes up quickly and comes to lay beside him. Draco shuts his book and stays on his back, staring at the ceiling.
“He’s such a bastard.” He finally grits out.
Neville smiles softly and pulls him close, kissing his temple.
“I know.”
“Merlin forbid he ever listens to one of us.” Draco continues. This happens every time. He insults and insults Harry, focusing on the anger to keep his worry at bay.
“I know,” Neville repeats. “But when this is done, he’ll come back to us. And he’ll come back to you first, you know.”
“Sure.” Even though he can’t see his face, he’s certain Draco is rolling his eyes. After a moment or two, he hears him swallow and knows what is coming next.
“I just worry about that prat. He’s reckless and fucking stubborn and-”
Neville silences him with a kiss and when he pulls back, stares into his eyes with purpose.
“I worry too. But he’ll be fine. We’ll take care of him when he doesn’t. He’ll be fine Draco.”
“I know.” Draco sighs, “I’m still mad at him though.”
Neville chuckles as Draco turns on his side to fit himself against his front. “Yeah, but you’ll go and check up on him in the middle of the night anyway.”
“Yeah,” there’s a pause, “I will.”