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HOME IS WHERE HIS HEART IS	By : tas Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 16000 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
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Chapter Nine

�Can you please tell me why we are dressed in Muggle clothes to go on our holidays?� Draco asked Severus who looked quite comfortable in black jeans and T-shirt. �I still can�t believe how easy it was to get the time off of work.�

�You�ve given the Ministry more than enough of your time, Draco,� Severus said watching Draco pack.

�What if they wouldn�t have?�

�I would have kidnapped you,� Severus smirked. �Anyway, I talked with the Minister of Magic and he agreed. You should have some time off. Did you let Oliver know you would be going away?�

�No need,� Draco sighed. �Oliver and I signed the annulment papers last month. It was the first time in six months we were in the same room together.�

�Are you okay with that?� Severus asked, inwardly smiling to himself on how perfect it was.

�Yeah,� Draco shrugged, closing his bag. �It was a mutual decision. He wished me luck on finding happiness, and I him. So � where are you sweeping me off to?� He asked, still not knowing their destination.

�Somewhere where you�d never think I�d go,� Severus grinned, shrinking down Draco�s bag to hand it back to Draco who put it in his jean jacket pocket.

�How are we getting there?�

�Portkey,� Severus replied, taking out a blue bandana.

Draco held onto one end with Severus the other. �Whiskey,� Severus said, smirking at Draco who looked at him strange.

When Draco opened his eyes after landing, he felt Severus�s hand at his back to steady him. �Merlin, how far did we go, Sev?�

�Welcome to Serendipity, Montana,� a smiling woman greeted.

Draco looked around him to see the woman who welcomed him, two boys one around ten years old, the other about five. Surprising to him, also, Remus Lupin. �Montana?� he questioned, coming into the room to shake Remus�s hand. �This is where you�ve moved off to?�

�Yes, and it�s been good,� Remus smiled. �I�ll introduce you. This is Doreen Jefferies, her son, Michael, and his friend, Colby.�

�Hello sir,� Michael greeted, coming forward. �Do you work with Severus?�

Draco looked to Severus. �I met Michael a few months ago. Have the transformations been okay for you?� Severus asked.

�It really hurt the first time, but Remy helped me. I�m all grey. Haze took a picture of us together,� Michael grinned.

�He even let me hug him last month when he was all wolfy,� Colby smiled.

�Haze was there to make sure Colby wouldn�t bother him,� Remus said.

�Are you here to see the Rodeo?� Colby asked.

�Rodeo?� Draco asked, looking into the green eyes. �I�ve never been to a rodeo before.�

�Which should be starting soon,� Remus said, following Doreen to the stands with the others following.

Once seated, Draco leaned closer to Severus who sat beside him. �A rodeo? And how do you know about it?�

Severus shared a look with Remus over Draco�s shoulder then looked back at Draco. �I was called here a few months ago when the wizarding hospital here had a patient who was bitten by a werewolf. I found out about it then.�

�Michael?� Draco asked, nodding to the boy sitting beside Remus.

�Yes.�

�And Remus? Why is he here?�

�Family.�

Their conversation was interrupted by the loudspeaker announcing the beginning of the calf roping. The ranch didn't have an entry, so the group continued to chat during the event, though Draco glanced at the arena every now and again, never having seen a calf being roped before."

�You see the green logo with the flaming horse? � Remus pointed out to Draco. Draco nodded. �The people riding with that logo represent the Phoenix Horse Ranch, where Doreen, Michael, and Haze are.�

The next competition was the bronco riding. They watched three other contestants. �Now from the Phoenix Horse Ranch, Haze Sutton!� Was announced.

�Yay!!!! Go Daddy!!!� Colby shouted out, jumping up from his seat, followed by Michael.

Draco looked at the arena to see a chestnut stallion rip out of the gate, the rider holding on with his thighs and one hand on the rope. One arm was raised as the cowboy�s body was whipped to and fro.

�Go! Go! Go!� Michael and Colby shouted, clapping till their hands were reddened.

Draco watched the dark-haired man, the smallest smirk on his face as he was whipped on the horse. The eyes were concentrated on the horse, the cowboy�s hat shadowing the features, but he would know that profile anywhere. �Harry?� He whispered.

�Go Daddy!� Colby shouted out again.

Draco looked to Colby, now realizing why the green eyes jolted him when he first saw them. He met Severus�s eyes. �Why? Why did you bring me here, Severus?� He choked out. �Colby?!� He quietly said, remembering the last time he saw Harry that that name was mentioned.

�The man in his life,� Severus finished.

�Is he? Was Harry?�

�No, Harry didn�t become pregnant that night. Colby was conceived from a one-time lover, a good friend who was there for him.�

�Is he still around?� Draco asked.

�She � she was Muggle. Cheyanne died during childbirth,� Remus said, leaning closer. �That�s when he first came to see me � to help him with his grief.�

Draco�s head shot up when the crowd shouted. He saw Harry sitting on the ground, covered in dust head to toe. Harry got up and slapped his hat on his pants as he walked to the gate, while a rodeo hand took the reins of the horse.

�The score for that cowboy is an 89, Haze should be happy with that ride,� was announced over the loudspeaker.

�Can we go see Daddy?� Colby asked, turning to Remus.

�Sure C.J. The next event he�s in isn�t for another hour,� Remus smiled, getting up. �You two coming along?� He asked Severus and Draco.

�No, I think I�ll stay,� Draco quietly replied.

�I would advise you not to mention that Draco is here until after Harry�s last event,� Severus suggested.

�You hear that C.J?� Michael said. �We need to keep this a secret for now.�

�I can keep secrets you know,� Colby smirked. �Hey, can we get some of those ribs?� He asked, slowly descending the stairs of the stands.

Draco and Severus watched the rest of the bronco riding in silence. �I thought you cared about me, Sev,� Draco quietly said, breaking the silence between them.

�I do.�

�I�m going to get hurt again,� Draco said, leaning his elbows on his knees.

�You still care for him then? After all these years?� Severus asked.

�I still dream of him, Sev. I found myself comparing him to Oliver or the other men I�ve dated. Pathetic, isn�t it?�

�You two had a history all through your years at Hogwarts. The rivalry you had between the two of you could only turn to the attraction you both feel for each other,� Severus replied.

�When he came to see me last time at the Ministry, I kissed him. It still had the same effect on me as our first kiss. My whole body responded to him.�

�And you still married Oliver?�

�Yes. I cared for Oliver � still do, but not the way I do for Harry. Harry made it clear he didn�t want me in his life when he cut his ties with me,� Draco sighed. �So what does he do now?�

�He�s part-owner of the ranch and has helped in its success. Harry specializes in training horses for the ranch or whoever hires him.�

�I didn�t even know he could ride a horse,� Draco mused.

�He had only ridden a few times with Cheyanne. He has spent the past years learning everything he could.�

�This Cheyanne � they were close?�

�As I understand it, yes. They had both applied for a bartending position at the bar in town here, and both got the job. They were inseparable. Harry still dated other men, as Cheyanne dated men also,� Severus replied.

�And Colby?�

�Harry had a nightmare, and Cheyanne came to comfort him. One thing led to another . . . �

�Then Colby was conceived. What happened to her? And did Harry tell you all this?�

�Harry and Remus told me. Cheyanne was diagnosed with cancer about a year before she got pregnant. The tumor on her brain was slowly getting bigger. She most likely would have died sooner if Harry wasn�t feeding her some potions. She died during childbirth. That was a day or two before he saw you the last time,� Severus said.

�Do you really think I have a chance, Severus?�

�Harry is not in a serious relationship right now � as far as I�m told. He cares for you, Draco. That�s why I brought you here. You�re both too stubborn, so I intervened.�

�Long distance relationships don�t work, Sev. Found that out with Oliver.�

�Who says it has to be long distance?� Severus asked.

�Harry wouldn�t move back.�

�But would you move here?�

�I don�t know. I guess anywhere Harry is would be home enough for me. But what about Colby?�

�We have two weeks to spend here on holidays. Get to know Colby � and Harry again. It�s different here, and it�s more laid back here. We�ll be staying with Remus for the two weeks, as he invited us.�

�Doesn�t he live with Harry?�

�He did when he first moved here, but they converted the top of the old garage into living quarters which are by the main house. Remus wanted to be close to Michael also.�

�I�ll give it a try. But if I get hurt when Harry rejects me again, you�re helping to pick up the pieces.�

�I�ll always be there for you, Draco,� Severus smiled, putting his one arm around Draco�s shoulders.

~*~

Harry was talking with some of the men from the ranch who were either helping with the horses or competing in some of the competitions when he heard Colby call him. He smiled, and squatted down to soon have his son hug him tight.

�You did really good, Daddy,� Colby grinned.

�I�m glad you think so, C.J.,� Harry grinned. �Did you watch the others?�

�Most of them,� Michael smiled. �But you were the best.�

�Did you see us, Daddy? Severus came to watch and . . . � Colby said, then stopped when Michael nudged his shoulder.

�I didn�t see you, but I knew you were out there,� Harry smiled, kissing Colby�s cheek to then stand up. �I bet you�re hankering for some ribs now, huh?� Harry asked, holding C.J.�s hand.

Harry led them to the food stands, and ordered the boys some ribs and chips, and a water for himself. He didn�t like to have a full stomach for these competitions.

Remus, Harry, and Doreen sat quietly as the boys talked. �So, where�s Severus?� Harry asked, in the break of the constant chatter.

�He wanted to watch the rest of the event,� Remus said, handing Colby a chip. �You�ll be able to visit with him later. He�ll be staying for the next couple of weeks.�

�And Dr . . . � Colby began, before having his voice silenced from a whispered spell from Doreen.

�You�re ruining the surprise,� Michael whispered.

�Surprise?� Harry smiled, trying not to laugh at the glare Colby was sending Doreen�s way.

�You�ll see,� Remus said. �So have you seen the bull you�ll be riding?� He asked to change the topic.

�Yeah, and he�s mean looking,� Harry laughed. �It will be more challenging than the bronco riding though. I actually don�t think I�ll be entering that one again.�

�Why is that?� Michael asked.

Harry shrugged, tilting his head. �Bulls are different than broncs,� he tried to explain. �More challenging I think.�

�Must be that thing you have with the horses,� Michael said.

�Horses just seem to connect with you,� Doreen agreed. �That�s why you�re good at what you do.�

�I was talking with Max from the Blackwood Ranch and he mentioned that he saw a negrasus.�

�Where did he see it?� Doreen asked.

�In the canyon, I�d like to check to see if the creature is there, possibly breed it,� Harry said.

�When would you go?� Michael asked.

Colby jumped up and climbed onto Harry�s lap, mouthing what he wanted to say. Harry smiled as he took the spell off. �Can we go, Daddy?�

�Sorry C.J., but you have school, and I don�t want to have to worry about you out there,� Harry smiled.

�We don�t know the temperament of this creature, C.J. It could be dangerous,� Doreen said.

�But Daddy . . . � Colby began.

�Can take care of himself,� Doreen finished.

�And we need to finish building that hen house,� Michael said. �I can�t do it without your help, C.J.�

�You have Keith helping,� Colby said.

�Yeah, but we need a supervisor,� Michael smiled, it growing bigger when he saw Harry trying not to laugh out loud.

�Just think about all those fresh eggs we�ll have when it�s done,� Doreen added.

�Okay,� Colby sighed dramatically. �Can we have some ice cream now?�

�Bottomless pit,� Doreen muttered. �I�ll take them. You want anything Remus, Haze?�

�Maybe later,� Harry said, leaning over to kiss Colby�s cheek before he got up. �Be good.�

�Always,� Colby grinned, running after Doreen and Michael.

�So Remus, you think you and Sev want to go find this negrasus?� Harry asked. �It would be nice to have you there. I�m thinking it will be around three days � two nights. Think you�d handle roughing it?� He added teasingly.

�I�m sure I�ve �roughed� it up enough in my time when I�m in wolf form, prat,� Remus laughed.

�And Severus?�

�We�ll have to ask.�

Harry heard the announcement for the contestants for the bull riding to get ready. �I�ll see you at the ranch later? This is the last competition and I�ll be too busy afterwards with our horses and tack to catch you here. I�ll drop by to see you before I hit the hot tub,� Harry grinned.

Remus watched Harry walk towards the arena laughing and talking to the people that he met along the way. He went to find Michael, Colby, and Doreen, then bought a couple of sodas for Draco and Severus before they found their seats again.

�Everything all right?� Severus asked Remus when they all sat down again.

�Yes, Harry will meet up with us at the ranch later. He�s competing in this next competition, then needs to help with the ranch�s gear to bring back home,� Remus said.

�Is this competition dangerous?� Draco asked.

Remus slowly nodded, knowing Draco wouldn�t like the answer. �Yes,� he replied honestly. �More so for an inexperienced rider, but Harry knows what he�s doing.�

Draco sat at the edge of his seat when Harry�s name was announced. He had watched the previous riders and had seen how much was at risk � especially when one was taken away on a stretcher. The rodeo clowns had drawn the bull away from the downed rider and back into the stock pens within seconds, allowing the EMT�s to swing into action, carrying the rider out of the pen.

Harry�s bull came out bucking wildly, trying to get the rider off its back. Draco could see the muscles play in Harry�s arms and back as he held on. The bull slammed sideways into the metal gate, the wince of pain evident on Harry�s face as his leg hit.

Harry�s face became more determined as he held on. Draco stood with the others when Harry was thrown off the bull. The clowns came to divert the bull to the pen but not before it got a hind kick to Harry�s shoulder as he was scrambling away from it.

�Is he going to be okay?� Draco asked, seeing Harry climb over the gate.

�He�ll be okay. He�s had worse,� Doreen reassured.

�Nothing that a healing charm won�t cure,� Remus added.

�And a soak in the hot tub,� Doreen finished.

Note: Negrasus is a fictional creature name that I had help coming up with from a faithful reviewer of my stories � Ronnie Hinnard. I know it�s been awhile Ronnie, but thanks again for the help on the name (negra - black or dark + sus - pegasus = Negrasus) Plural for negrasus - negrasi (made up)- Not all Negrasi are black, especially if they are bred with non-magical mares. The more black their hide, the more magical they are.

I myself have not been to a rodeo, let alone been on a horse, and haven�t a lot of experience with them. This is the result. LOL. I got help from PW and Graballz on some of the details, but if you see any discrepancies, my apologies, since I haven�t had �actual� rodeo experience.

tbc

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HOME IS WHERE HIS HEART IS