Whatever You Want {Drarry}

•Those Shoes Were Meant for Walking (Not Chewing)•

art credit (jostaart|tumblr)

"Harry, are you sure this is a good idea?" Hermione asks him while they sit on the balcony of his flat, overlooking the bustling businesses of Diagon Alley in spring.

"Well, what else am I going to do. I volunteer there anyway and they're down a few dogs."

"Did they ask you to do this?" she asks next, ready to fight for him. "I mean, honestly. You don't have to let them speak to you that way Harry. I know you don't know much about your heritage, but-"

"They didn't say anything," Harry insists, shaking his head. "They don't even know I'm desi or an animagus or anything. I was taking one of the dogs, Rocko, a bath, and I overheard them talking about how things were going really well because people are adopting pets, but that also meant they didn't have enough animals to help with their volunteer services. So I signed myself up to work when they weren't looking. Only a few days a week. Just something to keep me busy, ya know?" he finishes with a shrug and Hermione nods understanding.

It seemed like since the end of the war, all he had been doing was trying to stay busy. It's been almost 5 years and he still hasn't found a job he wants to do, but he does enjoy volunteer work so he tries different things. Whatever someone needs, usually. He realized a while ago that thats probably all he knows how to do, if he was being completely honest with himself.

"You don't think it's going to be...degrading, being someone's pet?"

"I'm not a pet, 'Mione. I'm just a volunteer companion. For when people need help with their shopping or something. Like a dragon scout, but without the badges and...well, I'd be a dog." When he sent her that goofy smile she had nothing left to do but laugh.

"As long as you're okay with it..." she says again, giving him a way out.

"I wouldn't have signed up if I wasn't," he counters and she nods before laying a hand on his knee supportively and moving back into the house to grab her purse and floo back to work. She was a mind healer who worked on her own time, sure, but she still had other clients to help.

--:--

It's been ages since Harry has seen Draco Malfoy, and he guessed the taller man had grown up, but he never would have guessed that he wore a buzzcut low to his head and a scared look etched into his brows as he moved through the crowd. He wore a glamour, but it was easier for animals to see past them. Harry was sitting outside of Fortescue's where he had been helping a woman, Madam Han, who had gone blind during the war with navigating Diagon Alley, when he saw the hard to miss gleam of too-blond hair. He wanted to bark and call the blond over, see what he was up to, without all the following and footwork. Madam Han came out of the shop with the help of one of the younger workers and immediately, Harry was at her side again leading her through the street, the blond man long forgotten.

When he finally did remember, he mentioned it to Hermione and Ron over dinner and his friends had to remind him that Malfoy had been in Azkaban, that he probably just needed a change, that a haircut was a safe place to start.

Harry ran a hand through his now long curly hair and thought about how right they were.

--:--

The door to Patronus Pets swung open and the bell overhead twinkled. Heather at the front counter starts to call out a greeting, when she looks up and realizes who is standing in the doorway.

"You have to leave," she said, almost spitting at him, but Malfoy stood there looking indifferent. He had done nothing wrong and until then, she couldn't have him removed from the premises. She had no right.

"I'm looking for a volunteer companion. I was referred here by Healer Grant, he said you were the best shelter in the area."

Heather opened the door closest to her and looked inside quickly before slamming it shut and shaking her head.

"Whoops, none left," she said feigning sweetness. Harry was out of hiding and barking excitedly at Draco without another word.

"So, am I to believe that that dog is also unavailable?" He raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow in a way that only Malfoy seemed to know how to do and Harry barked again.

"Uh-" Heather gulped, "No? I just...misunderstood you!"

"My actions can lead to confusion, but I have been proficient in the English language since before I was three. I leave no room to be misunderstood."

"Er-" she said changing her entire stance on the encounter. Deciding that if she helped him he would go away. She smiled. "I just thought you were looking for a more permanent companion. Jamesie here, is a pet that is out on volunteer loan by one of the shelter workers. He can walk with you around town, or to help with groceries, but he must be brought back before the shelter closes."

"I'm only picking up a few things on Diagon. He'll be perfect."

Heather nodded stiffly and moved to get Harry out of the cage. He wagged his tail happy to be able to roam free, even if it was only a trip to Diagon Alley with Malfoy. He was here to help, right? And Malfoy with his cropped hair and haunted expression needed help.

The first thing Harry learned during his volunteer time as a dog, was that people will just tell you things. They genuinely want to speak to animals like they're people and luckily enough for them, Harry was one. When they asked him questions or wanted to hold conversations, as one sided as they may be, he did try to respond. His caretakers usually weren't too far off with their interpretation of his barks so it didn't bother him too much either. It was entertaining at any rate. Malfoy, surprisingly, was no different.

"Sorry about the leash. I know how horrid it is to be chained up and drug around, but anything bigger than a kneazle kitten has to be on a leash."

Harry knows this rule, but he also knows first hand how many people don't follow it. He thinks about how strict Malfoy must be adhering to any rules to want to carry a perfectly well-trained dog on a leash in London of all places. It was like he was scared of being caught out of line and Harry whined sympathetically.

"It won't be for very long, darling, just long enough to get what I need from Diagon without getting attacked again," he said in response, mumbling the last bit to himself. Harry was the picture of perfect as Draco made his way through the crowded cobblestone street. He stopped in front of a hidden bookstore, probably owned by a small family and tied Harry up outside. "I hope no one tries to attack you while I'm in there. You wouldn't deserve it."

Harry, unable to leave and too shocked to move, sat and stayed.

-&-

hey futher muckers
lemme just drop off another oneshot no one asked for

i really had planned on making a full fic out of this, and i still might, but im tired of never posting things
i feel like i never post drarry anymore so i just wanted to let everyone know im still here

random harry potter facts and fics is like my fucking special skill
never forget that

love y'all

-- angel janeé xoxo 💋