Blackberry Jam (A Drarry FanFiction)

Chapter Five

   Normally, Harry would stay up to at least eight o'clock, especially when it was still almost summer and the sun was still nearly in the sky. But after their meal he and Draco couldn't stop yawning, and Mrs Figg insisted they go and brush their teeth for bed whilst she did the washing up.

So the boys traipsed back out to fetch their cases. "Um," Harry said shyly. "You can go first." He pointed to the bathroom and, to make his point, took a step back and sat on one of the armchairs. He didn't know why he wanted Draco to like him so much – it wasn't just because they were going to be living together and sharing a room. Harry felt drawn to him. He liked his hair and his eyes, and the way he always seemed to be thinking about something important.

Draco bit his lip at Harry's offer, then nodded. "Thank you," he said, then disappeared behind the door.

Harry though he might fall asleep if he stayed sat on the chair, so he left his suitcase and went to go help Mrs Figg with the drying up. "You're an industrious little fellow, aren't you Harry," she said fondly.

"I help my mother with the chores," he said, and had to blink a couple of times, missing her terribly. He tried not to think of her all alone in their house, or the bombs that could fall again tonight.

"As well you should," Mrs Figg said proudly. "My Bert always did his part," she added with a nod.

"Is that Mr Figg?" Harry asked, carefully stacking another plate on the counter.

Mrs Figg nodded. "It was indeed. He was a lovely man Harry, I think he would have liked you. But he had a dicky heart after the war – the last war – and he was never quite the same since. He passed a few years ago, but I've always had my lovelies to keep me company." Harry looked down as one of the cats wound its way around his leg, as if it knew it was being talked about.

"They seem nice," he said, not really meaning it, but wanting to be polite. He was still scared of getting scratched.

"They are, but they don't talk," Mrs Figg said frankly. "Good listeners, but it's nice to have another voice in the house. And now I have two!" She playfully flicked some suds at Harry, and he giggled happily.

He decided he was going to talk for both he and Draco until Draco found his voice again. He was sure he had a lot to say, he was probably just saving it up for the right time.

Speaking of which, the door to the bathroom opened. "You go on," Mrs Figg insisted. "I'll finish this up, you boys look dead on your feet."

Harry thought he should maybe stay and help until the end, but she took the pudding bowl and dish towel off him, and gave him a gentle push away. "I'll see you two in the morning."

Harry brushed his teeth as fast as possible, then splashed water onto his face. His eyes felt gritty after so many hours travelling, and it was nice to rub cold water into them. He carefully took his clothes off and folded them into his case, changing into his pyjamas after. He wasn't sure when he was going to be able to get new clothes, and he'd only been able to fit two of everything in his case, so he wanted to be extra careful with everything.