The Whole Nine Yards

Chapter Sixteen - Happy Dragon

~ The Field Near Godric's Hollow ~

"But Harry, we're tired. Can't we have a break now?" Seamus whined like a pathetic child. Sirius looked amused at the younger man's theatrics.

"Don't you want to beat the Weasley's?" Harry asked him, and the rest of the Quidditch team as they gathered around.

"The Weasley's have been playing together every summer for at least a decade. They are a very cohesive team. They can practically read each others minds. We have never played together before so we are at a distinct disadvantage," Draco said patiently.

"I know that, but we've been here for five hours now," Seamus said, looking to the rest of the team for support.

"How about we break for lunch and then keep going for another few hours?" Justin suggested diplomatically. The others nodded their head enthusiastically.

"Let's go back to our place and get that barbeque going," Harry said, grinning at his friends.

The seven of them walked back to Harry and Draco's place with their brooms over their shoulders, all in high spirits, despite the gruelling training schedule Harry and Draco had devised.

Draco slipped his free hand into Harry's and smiled up at his husband. "Did I ever thank you for remembering to owl Justin?"

"No," Harry said with a grin. Only the day before Harry had suddenly realised that while he had owled the former Gryffindors and Draco had owled the former Slytherin - no one had owled the former Hufflepuff. Justin had been thrilled to be included in the team and was turning out to be the peacekeeper of the team.

"You can thank me tonight, when the team leaves," Harry said with a suggestive wink. Draco grinned happily.

Back at Harry and Draco's house, Harry and Sirius started the barbeque while Draco and Justin passed food outside to Dean, Seamus and Blaise. The two former Gryffindors and the former Slytherin were engaged in a spirited discussion about the Quidditch World Cup, which was being held in France later that month.

"Justin," Draco said softly, pulling him back into the kitchen as Dean, Seamus and Blaise drifted back to the picnic table near the barbeque.

"Look, tell me if this is none of my business, but I heard that things weren't good between you and Charlie and I was wondering if you were okay," Draco said hesitantly. He and Justin had never been friends, but after spending more time with him this week, Draco had come to like the quietly spoken man who was obviously deeply in love with Charlie Weasley.

Justin looked a bit surprised by the concern evident in Draco's tone but forced a smile. "I'm fine, really."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Draco asked, leaning back against the kitchen bench.

"I don't know. I just feel like everything's moving so fast, and..." Justin seemed a bit embarrassed to say the last bit.

"And?" Draco prompted gently.

"And...I guess I'm kind of old fashioned. I just never imagined myself living with someone unless we were married first but I don't think Charlie wants that sort of commitment," Justin explained. He seemed to sag as the conversation progressed. Like he was holding it all together, but with a few gentle questions Draco had pulled his carefully constructed barriers down.

Draco carefully led Justin to the kitchen table and they sat down opposite each other.

"Have you asked him?" Draco asked.

"What?" Justin asked, looking confused.

"Have you asked Charlie what he wants?" Draco clarified. "How do you know what he does or doesn't want unless you ask him?"

"I can't face him yet," Justin said, staring down at the table. He was tracing the wood grain patterns on the table with his finger.

"You do realise he's the seeker of the Weasley team, don't you?" Draco asked incredulously. "You're going to see him on Saturday whether you want to or not."

"I know," moaned Justin. He held his golden blond head in his hands and sighed.

"You know, living with someone is a pretty big commitment too," Draco pointed out gently. "I'd say the chances are that Charlie would jump at the chance to marry you, if he knew that was what you wanted. Ironically enough, I think he probably didn't want to rush you by proposing."

Justin looked thoughtful. "Maybe..."

"I might as well put in my two knuts worth, since I've come so far. I think you should talk to him, tonight if possible. Don't leave your first meeting with him since this happened until Saturday. I think you'll find that Charlie will love you no matter what you want to do. He will wait for you to be ready. Trust me on this one," Draco said with an air of authority. Of course, he knew what he was talking about. Harry was currently waiting for him to be ready for the next step in their own relationship.

"You're right. Do you mind if I go and see him now?" Justin asked apprehensively.

"No, of course not. Go. Just don't tell him any of our strategies!" Draco said with a laugh as he waved the former Hufflepuff out the front door.

A few moments later, Draco joined the group in the garden with a smile on his face. Harry glanced over at him, a question in his eyes but Draco just smiled mysteriously.

"Where's Justin?" Harry said softly in Draco's ear as he sat down beside his husband.

"He went to talk to Charlie," Draco replied, equally softly. Harry raised his eyebrows.

"I know, I know," Draco said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I said I wasn't going to interfere but he looked so miserable and he and Charlie are so perfect together that I just couldn't stand back and watch them drift apart."

"You are just too sweet," Harry said and then planted a warm kiss on Draco's lips.

"No, no Dean. You've got it all wrong." Seamus was protesting loudly. "Ireland will reign supreme, just as they did back when we were in fourth year."

"Seamus," Dean said condescendingly. "You're the one who's got it wrong. Ireland were knocked out in the semi-finals."

"Oh yeah," Seamus said sheepishly as the others laughed at him.

"Besides, we all know that England will kick ass anyway," Blaise said with a grin. Sirius raised his glass with a cheer and Blaise clinked his own against it.

"So Blaise, what are you doing now?" Harry asked him with a friendly smile.

"I work at the Ministry of Magic. In the Department of Magical Catastrophes," replied Blaise.

"Isn't that the department Fudge worked in before he was Minister of Magic?" Sirius asked curiously.

"Yes. Actually, not many people know this, but quite a few of the most recent Ministers of Magic have come from the Department of Magical Catastrophes," Blaise commented lightly, confirming Draco's assertion that Blaise's ambitions lay in the political arena, not in world domination.

All in all, it was a lovely day. Friends together - playing Quidditch, enjoying a meal together. Ended with a glorious session of love making.

Draco was indeed a happy dragon that night.