Summer Rain

Chapter 20

Harry's stay in hospital actually spanned nine weeks. During his fifth week in the rehab ward, he managed to catch a particularly nasty cold, so his doctor insisted on keeping him in hospital for an additional two weeks.

Overall, Harry healed well and although he hated being confined in the hospital for so long (and verbally reminded everyone of this on a regular basis), he pushed himself to the limits with his physiotherapy and came out better for it in the end. He did limp, and needed a walking stick to move around, especially when the pain in his knee was particularly bad. He was to be on long-term pain medication for that, but his doctor told him that in time the pain would disappear and he may eventually even be able to walk without the aid of the stick.

Lucas never came back to see Harry again. When Draco had told Harry about Lucas's visit, Harry had seemed rather indifferent and only wanted reassurance that Lucas had been alright with seeing Harry so injured and asked that he be told not to come back if he requested to see Harry again. He never asked if Lucas queried his and Draco's relationship for which Draco was secretly relieved as he would've then been forced to tell Harry about his conversation with Lucas in its entirety.

During Harry's hospital stay, Harry and Draco had discussed at length their plans to move to Australia to live. They had argued a bit about whether they would go permanently or just for an extended stay, and finally agreed that they would go indefinitely, but they would keep Harry's apartment in London until they lived a little in Australia and decided they really did want to make the move more permanent. Harry reluctantly gave into this little condition, though he was already mentally wording the real estate advertisement for his apartment.

Harry's decision regarding the Weasleys seemed to be final for him. He never spoke about wanting to see them, or about what happened. He seemed satisfied to just push the issue to a tiny corner of his mind for now until he was ready to speak to them again, and Draco just left Harry to his own devices regarding that whole episode.

On a whole, Harry felt his decision had lifted a huge weight from his shoulders and he was much more like the old Harry Draco remembered a majority of the time. It was only on his particularly bad days when the pain was too much that he got a little depressed and down, but Draco told Harry he was more than willing to spend the day in bed with him to keep him company on those occasions.

They were yet to tell anyone of their plans. Harry was nervous about his friends' reactions. Although he was excited about moving and knew it was the right thing to do, he also felt a bit sick at the thought of leaving everything that was familiar to him. He knew it was just a fear of the unknown, and he had complete faith in Draco being there for him right through the whole thing.

They were now relaxing in Harry's living room with Ron, Hermione, Melody, Remus and Tonks. Draco had brought Harry home from hospital earlier in the day, and they had decided to throw a small welcome home party for him.

Harry was relaxing on the couch with his head in Draco's lap. Draco was running his fingers through Harry's hair in the most hypnotic way and Harry had to shake himself to keep from falling asleep.

Draco was holding a glass of red wine in his other hand and taking small, infrequent sips. Harry wasn't able to drink alcohol because of his medication, so Draco felt slightly guilty about indulging himself, even if Harry had slapped him gently and told him to relax and enjoy himself.

Ron was sitting on the floor at Hermione's feet playing with Melody and trying to restrain her from getting to Harry and climbing all over him. Remus and Tonks were sitting closely on the other couch holding hands.

"I bet it feels great to be back home in your own space, Harry," Tonks commented with a grin. Harry looked over at her just in time to see Remus give her a pointed nudge and a small glare.

"Yeah, it does. No matter how long I spent in one, I could not get used to those hospital beds. And the bedpan thing is just nasty," Harry joked. "I'm glad you're all here too. Thanks for the party; I wasn't expecting it at all."

"Any excuse for a party, I say," Ron laughed and Harry grinned at him.

"How about a going away party then?" Harry asked abruptly. Draco stopped stroking Harry's hair and stilled as the room fell silent. Remus was the only one who didn't react in anyway and just kept a soft smile on his face.

"What do you mean, Harry?" Hermione asked warily. Harry eased himself up into a sitting position.

"I never meant to just dump this on all of you, but I've been thinking about it for the last four weeks and I can't think of any better way to say it," Harry started and Draco took his hand and gave it a supportive squeeze. They had agreed together that Harry should tell his friends in his own time and when he was ready. "Draco and I are moving to Australia."

"Oh, wow! That's fantastic, Harry! Hear that, love? You were right!" Tonks cried as she nudged Remus in the side. "Hands up for holidays in the sun at Harry and Draco's place!" She enthused and jumped up and engulfed them both in a big hug.

Harry laughed nervously then pulled away and looked tentatively at Ron and Hermione, whose mouths were both hanging open in shock.

"I... I thought you said you came back to England permanently, Draco?" Hermione finally said and Harry could hear the hurt in her voice.

"I did," Draco said honestly. "This is Harry's idea."

"Why do you want to leave us, mate?" Ron asked in a tiny, wounded voice.

"It's not about leaving you guys at all," Harry insisted. "I would take you all with me if I knew you could come. I need a fresh start, and I need it in a new, unfamiliar place with Draco. I also need time away from your family, Ron. I'm sorry."

"No, I understand... I think." Ron frowned and looked back at Hermione to see her reaction.

"Draco had a good life over there. He had a very successful career, a great home, nice friends and he gave it all up to come back to me. I'm going back with him not just because he deserves to be happy, but because I want to be in his life, not vice versa. I love my job, but I don't love where I work. I have a nice apartment, but I hate London. I'm a wizard, but really don't give a shit if I can do magic or not. The only thing keeping me here is you guys, and if you tell me you need me to stay, then I... I suppose I will reconsider... but, I'd like to think that we can still be best friends, even if I need to live in another country. We can visit regularly, and of course you are all always welcome to visit us. I'll admit that Draco and I were considering this move before my accident, but I now realise more than anything that I've spent my life doing things for other people, and now I think I need to do something for myself." By the time Harry finished speaking, he had tears falling slowly down his face.

"Oh god, Harry! You know we aren't going to stop you going!" Hermione cried and launched herself at him and wrapped her arms around him. "You do what makes you happy. We'll miss you like hell, but you deserve a new start." She turned and glared and Draco. "And you look after him, or so help you, you won't have anything left to fill those fancy undies you model!"

"Whoa!" Draco laughed and held his hands up. "That's me told." Everyone laughed.

"So, when do you plan on leaving?" Ron asked.

"In two weeks," Harry said with an apologetic smile at Ron. "Draco's been in touch with his friends over there, and they've found us a nice house on Sydney Harbour to rent with a view to buy eventually. It's short notice, I know. But it's now or never."

"What about your job?" Hermione questioned, picking Melody up and putting her into her pram.

"I resigned from St Mungo's a few weeks back. They're giving me references so I can get a job as a nurse in a Muggle hospital over there. They quite often have staff who want to move into Muggle nursing, so they know what to say in references to convince them I'm a nurse rather than a mediwizard. My doctors say I can't work for six months anyway, so I think I'll just enjoy the sun and be a kept man." Harry shrugged, and winked at Draco.

The group fell into silence again, and Harry felt awkward, so he looked down at Draco's hand and started fiddling with the ring on Draco's finger. When he heard someone sniffle, he looked up and realised in horror that Ron was crying, but trying to hide the fact. Ron never cried and Harry felt terrible that he was the cause of it.

"Ron, I --" Harry stammered but Ron waved him off.

"I'm alright, mate. I'm just going to miss you. I've never really had to say goodbye to someone close to me before," Ron mumbled. "Who am I going to hang out with now?"

"Ah, maybe your wife and daughter?" Hermione snorted. Draco tried to cover up a laugh with a cough, and Harry smirked at Ron.

"It's not the same!" Ron insisted. "You don't drink beer." This earned a chorus of sniggers around the room.

"I can't either anymore, Ron," Harry reminded him. "But seriously, though, since Melody was born, we haven't hung out too often and we've only seen each other regularly recently because everything exploded when Draco came back and then I had the accident. Until then, with us both working and you being a dad, we only saw each other every couple of weeks. Sure, we spoke on the phone and via the floo all the time, which we can still do when I'm in Australia."

"Yeah, I suppose." Ron admitted reluctantly. "Oh, you bastard, just give ma hug!" Ron stood up and moved over to Harry to hug him. Hermione joined in and then Draco was soon pulled into the mix.

"Air!" Draco coughed and pulled away.

"Ok, ok, enough of this," Harry insisted. "I'm not going to cry. We aren't leaving for two weeks, lets save the emotional stuff until then."

"You have to promise to call and write all the time." Hermione poked Harry in the chest.

"Ow!" Harry said and rubbed the spot she poked. "Is she this rough with you, mate?" Harry asked Ron.

"You better bloody believe it," Ron sulked.

"Oooo, sounds kinky." Draco smirked.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Hermione muttered as he blushed furiously. "You better promise to make him write and call. I know you pair will be living as Muggles and fucking like bunnies on beaches and stuff, but that's no excuse."

"We promise!" Harry laughed.

"And I want copies of all Draco's work in magazines or whatever. I'm going to make a scrapbook," Hermione insisted proudly and Ron rolled his eyes.

"Ah, maybe not all of them," Harry said tentatively, and refused to meet his friends eyes. Draco just sat back and continued to smirk wider.

"Please tell me you haven't done nude work, Draco?" Hermione scolded.

"Of course not. Some things are best kept sacred, and that's for Harry's eyes only now." Draco winked. "But I have modelled in some gay magazines, and those are shoots I'd prefer you not to see."

"We're not prudes! We can take it," Hermione cried.

"Er, I'd rather not," Ron mumbled and flushed to his hairline.

"But it might be interesting to see!" Hermione insisted.

"I agree." Tonks giggled and Remus's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What? I think two guys together is hot. There's nothing wrong with looking."

"Definitely," Hermione agreed and crossed her arms defiantly. Ron's jaw dropped and he gaped back at his wife.

"You... you..." Ron spluttered.

"Oi! This is MY boyfriend you are talking about here. He's not some lump to be ogled at!" Harry sniffed. "Well, not by my best friends and surrogate parents, anyway!"

"Aww, did you hear that, Remmy?" Tonks cooed. "He called us his surrogate parents." Remus chuckled.

"Exactly! So you aren't gawking at my boyfriend in a gay magazine!" Harry squawked indignantly. Everyone laughed.

"Calm down, darling," Draco chuckled and patted Harry's thigh. "They won't see the gay shoots. The magazines are very exclusive and only available in certain areas of Australia."

"Hmmph," Harry replied and nodded in satisfaction.

"Ok, enough of this. Harry's meds are wearing off and he's getting shitty." Draco stifled a laugh at the glare Harry shot him. "How about another round of drinks - and orange juice for Harry - and then Harry and I have some catching up to do in another room of the house."

"Wooooo!" Tonks taunted. "Go for it, guys! Pity the doc said you are restricted to the bed." Harry blushed and muttered something that sounded like 'f'koff'.

"Hey, the bed suits me. I was getting a bit fed up with the bruises on the backs of my thighs from the kitchen table, anyway, and walls can be rather cold on bare backs." Draco smirked.

"Oh, ew. Please! WAY too much information!" Ron cried and slapped his hands over his ears. Hermione grinned and sent a thumbs up to Tonks.

"There is nothing wrong with a healthy sex life, Mr Weasley," Remus commented and Harry's mouth dropped open.

"REMUS! You aren't supposed to say things like that! You're supposed to be all wise and knowledgeable!" Harry shuddered and Remus laughed.

"Wise and knowledgeable enough to know that there is nothing wrong with a healthy sex life," Draco teased and Harry slapped him lightly.

"Don't encourage him. Kids aren't supposed to know about their parents doing things like that." Harry put his hand over Draco's mouth. "Ok, this conversation is over. Who wants another drink?"