As Fate Would Have It

Chapter 1

Note: I hope you like this chapter and, please, if you do, let me know with comments and votes. I appreciate it. Thank you 😊❤️

***********************************

Harry threw the shop door open and hurried down the centre between the rows of thin, flat, box-lined shelves to the back where Draco was stood behind and hunched over the pay counter as he flipped through a magazine, two doors behind him. Draco looked up with a raised eyebrow as he approached.

"I know, I know, I'm late," Harry said frantically, unravelling his scarf.

"Teddy?" Draco guessed and Harry nodded with a tired sigh.

"Three days of fever and three nights of night terrors," Harry told him. "Took a while this morning to determine if he felt well enough to go to school or not."

"Was he?" Draco asked.

"Eventually," Harry said. "With the agreement I take him out early if that changes."

Draco nodded sympathetically before his expression changed to tight curiosity that was knowing underneath. "And Ginny?"

Harry's own expression hardened. "She had to work."

Draco seemed to grow frustrated and disappointed. "Right."

Harry sighed again and circled the counter, heading for his office and workshop.

"It's convenient, isn't it?" Draco said with forced nonchalance just as Harry walked into his office. Harry froze for a moment before resuming his movements, slowly removing and hanging up his outerwear as Draco continued. "Every time Ginny has to work extra late or early or overnight, it's during the full moon."

Harry's eyes fluttered shut as his head fell back for a moment. "Draco," he groaned, huffing as he moved to stand in his office doorway. "Is now really the time for this?"

Draco turned around to face him, leaning against the counter and crossing his arms. "I don't know, I'm kind of running out of options here."

"Maybe that's a hint, then, to let it go," Harry said, giving Draco a stern, pointed look before moving to turn back into his office.

"Harry, I just—"

"Leave it alone," Harry interrupted with a snap, turning a hard look on Draco. "I mean it."

He saw Draco's jaw tighten as his lips pressed together. Eventually the blonde sighed heavily and nodded, spinning around to return to his magazine. Harry stared at Draco's back, holding back a heavy sigh of his own. He rubbed his forehead, hoping to stave off the tension headache he could feel hovering.

"Has that shipment of Tianshan ash wood from Pakistan come in yet?"

"No," Draco said shortly, making Harry feel guilty for snapping at his friend. "We did get an order of black Kelpie hair though."

Harry froze at Draco's response. "Please tell me you mean kitsune hair," he pleaded, annoyed dread forming in his gut.

Draco didn't even glance over his shoulder, turning the page in his magazine. "Nope, Kelpie hair."

Harry held back a curse and he forced a few deep breaths to control his frustration at the huge order mistake. Feeling like he wasn't going to start shouting, especially at Draco who would not deserve it, he ran a hand through his messy hair, that tension headache getting dangerously close to serious.

"Would you write up—"

"Already owled for a second order of kitsune hair this morning, this one not nearly as pleasant," Draco interrupted, still not looking away from his magazine.