Too Funky

"Oh come on Draco, it'll be fun."

Draco stared at his friends, one eyebrow raised in response to the idea of going to the Ministry of Magic's annual celebratory ball. This year's was muggle themed, and everyone had to go dressed as a muggle. Draco, who had actually spent some time around muggles, had this awful feeling it would end up looking like a Village People themed party in some of the more tacky clubs in Manchester. Clarissa sighed and shook her long red curls.

"Come on Draco, it will be fun, we've all got our costumes ready. I'm going to be a Poleessman." The word "policeman" was obviously unfamiliar to her, as it was to quite a few people from north Manchester.

"And I'm going as an Indian." Tommy sounded very enthusiastic. Draco shuddered. It was as he feared, and there was no way he was going to what he could only imagine to be the tackiest party ever imagined.

"No thank you, I'll stay at home and keep my dignity," and sanity, he thought.

Clarissa pouted in a way that seemed to make straight men cave into her will. Luckily Draco did not fall into that category and therefore realised that she looked like a goldfish with lip enhancement surgery. Now he was definitely not going, however, he was prepared to have some fun with his friends.

"Hey, if you want to "go muggle" tonight you should take this with you." He passed them a green bottle out of one of his kitchen cupboards.

"What is it?" Clarissa took it gingerly.

䌿Absinthe.ꍔ

His friends had gone to the party, and Draco was left alone. He idly flicked through his TV channels but nothing was inspiring him. He had to get of the flat, he decided. He had stayed in for ten nights, alone and sober. Enough was enough, and he wanted some drinking time out in the city. He had a shower quickly and changed clothes into something more muggle-like, which would have been surprising to any of his friends, as he was wearing jeans and a tight white t-shirt, while they were wearing YMCA gear. His flat was in the city, and it took him very little time to get to Canal Street. Canal Street was the centre of the gay village in Manchester, and since a certain TV programme by the name of Queer as Folk was aired, it had been filled with straight TV fans. It was sad really, watching the hetties trying to fit in, and sure enough he had to dodge a gaggle of women on a hen night. Already going out felt like a bad idea. He could feel the misery setting in. But he was here now and there was no point in going back. He snuck into his favourite bar, only to find another group of women, and nodded to the barman.

"Alright, Gary?"

"David Darling. I'm just fabulous. These straight people are the highlight of my evening." Gary was getting really sick of being surrounded by loud-mouth woman with fairy wings strapped to their backs. Draco sighed, but the group seemed to be leaving for another bar, presumably one where they might actually score. Then Draco saw the poster on the bar, Karaoke Night!!!

"Bottle of red, please. And one glass." It was going to be a long night.

Draco was two thirds of his way through the bottle and had not, as yet, cheered up. In fact, barely moved since sitting down, and had not really even seen the clientele, although he had heard their dismal singing. So far there had been three versions of "I Will Survive", 4 of "Holding out for a Hero" and six of "Tainted Love". Draco appreciated the music; it was the singing voices that were making him cringe. It may be a gay boy anthem, but Draco was really not prepared to listen to "I will Survive" sung by anyone who didn't have the voice a diva.

"This is for Draco," said a voice from the stage that reminded Draco of dark chocolate and memories of a time long forgotten.

The music was already starting as Draco swung around to see the young man with the messy hair moving his body, using the microphone stand as a pole.

"Hey you're just too funky for me

I've gotta get inside of you

And I'll show you heaven if you let me

Hey you're just too funky for me

I've gotta get inside

I've gotta get inside

I've gotta get inside of you

So when will that be?"

Draco's mouth was wide open, as Harry Potter started singing, staring right at him. From around him, young men were calling out, appreciative of Harry's dancing. Draco bit his lip and ran his fingers through his hair. Harry was a good singer, and a fucking awesome dancer. How often had he dreamed of pressing up against that heavenly sculptured body? He had lost count, but all the memories were coming back to him, just as his mood was beginning to lift.

"I watch your fingers working overtime

I've got to thinking that they should be mine

I'd love to see you naked baby

I'd like to feel that sometime maybe

Tonight if that's alrightꍔ

Draco was trying to remember how to breathe, oblivious to the crowd, eyes only for Harry, who likewise was staring intently at one person alone.

"I watch you drinking and I take my time

I watch you sinking all that cheap red wine

I've got to see you naked baby

I'd like to feel that sometime maybe

Tonight my goal's in sight"

Draco put his wine glass down, vaguely annoyed that the song had called his drink cheap, it was, as anything with good taste is, expensive. He could hear Gary behind him yelling something like, "Go for it James!" Harry must be using a different name these days, something that he and Draco had in common.

"Baby baby baby why do you do this to me

Won't let you go

You're such a

Baby baby baby why do you do this to me

I've got to know

I'm gonna be the kind of lover that you've never had

You're never gonna want another lover in your bed

You're just too funky for me"

Harry finished the song and replaced the microphone, before stepping sedately down to the dancefloor. He smiled at the crowd, rejecting all their offers before walking over to Draco. Draco had not moved since putting the glass down, only his eyes had changed, watching Harry constantly.

"Hello Draco."

"Hello Harry."

Gary looked bewildered. "Do you guys know each other?"

"Oh yes," whispered Harry and Draco suppressed a shudder. He asked Gary for a wineglass and helped himself to the remains of Draco's bottle.

"I saw you over here and it looked like you needed cheering up."

"Is that what that was?" Draco laughed. Harry pulled his stool closer and spoke into Draco's ear, his hair tickling Draco's face and neck torturously.

"Did it work? Are you feeling better?"

Draco nodded and took a sip of his drink to try and calm himself down.

"Perhaps you need a bit more cheering up. I'll have to see if I can rise to the challenge."

Draco almost spat out his drink in shock. Harry looked half amused, but also half frowning. Draco could see a flicker of doubt in Harry's eyes as to whether Draco was up for the rest of the night. Draco reassured him by putting his hand on Harry's thigh.

"I'd like that," he said hoarsely and went in for a kiss.

Harry tasted like the red wine and the promised chocolate. Draco had been imagining this for years now, and he wasn't disappointed. Harry obviously wasn't behind the door in restrained lust as he moved off his stool and onto Draco's lap, almost over-balancing the stool, sending them both flying.

The kiss took a long time to finish, but as soon as it did they both reached for their glasses and downed the last of their wine.

"My place?" Harry asked, removing himself from Draco's lap. Draco nodded and followed Harry to the door. They didn't get far outside of the club before Draco pressed Harry into a wall for another kiss. Harry groaned, causing an answering one from Draco.

Harry had an apartment in the newly developed area of Manchester, around the canal quays, and it did not take them too long to reach the place when they finally got to walking. Draco had opportunity to give the place one look over before Harry came out of the bathroom and walked over to Draco with the intention of removing all of Draco's clothes. Draco was more than happy to let him.

Draco sighed happily as Harry pressed up against his back, wrapping his arms around him.

"Have you any idea how long I've wanted to do that?" Harry asked with a laugh.

Draco froze. "How long?"

"About seven years."

Draco turned around and stared at Harry, fury written all over his face.

"And you didn't say anything! Have you any idea how much sex we could have had since then?" Harry looked surprised at the outburst.

"I didn't know you liked me. Tonight was the first time I had any idea you were queer." Draco calmed down and pulled Harry closer again, running his fingers over Harry's skin.

"Draco?"

"Mmm?"

"How long have you liked me?"

"Six years, seven months, thirteen days and twelve hours."

"Oh?"

"It was the time I saw you leaving the shower after Quidditch in seventh."

"Oh, I thought you looked flushed."

"Mmm."

There was a pause while both of them were intently trying to map out each other's torsos with their fingers.

"Draco?"

"Mmm?"

"Does that mean...I mean would you...erm."

"Like to stay? If you want me."

"Oh." Harry sighed happily.

"How about you stay here tonight and then in the morning we shag a bit more and see what happens from then on."

䌿Sounds bloody fantastic.ꍔ