Recuperation - 6

"See you on the beach," Draco said, shutting the door before Harry could respond.

"Right," Harry said, shaking his head. Perhaps hell had frozen over.

*~*~*

Harry awoke with a start, drenched in sweat, and his heart thudding painfully. Scattered, terrifying images of a dream swirled in his head as he clutched the sheet, gulping for air. It took him a moment to recognize the room where he slept.

He and his friends had been at the beach for a fortnight, and Harry had often been plagued by nightmares. He'd used a Dreamless Sleep Potion each night while in hospital, but he had

to leave it behind when he'd been released. The Healers didn't recommend using it without the supervision of medical professionals, and Harry had been so desperate to leave he hadn't cared. He'd survived nightmares before, he'd get through these, as well.

"All right, Harry?" Ginny asked softly, and he felt her soft, warm presence curled up by his side. He'd often found her beside him when he woke from a dream, and although he enjoyed finding her with him, he didn't like the thought that he'd been loud enough to wake her in her own room.

If they'd heard him, as well, Ron and Hermione had been kind enough not to mention it, and although Draco had grumbled a bit about being unable to get a decent night's rest, even he hadn't been obnoxious about it.

Their days at the beach house had been filled with swimming, sunning, and fun on the beach. The Tonkses owned a pair of jet skis that were nearly as fun as flying, and they'd all taken turns on them. They'd played games and gone body surfing, as well as built castles in the sand while their skin turned brown (although Ron and Ginny just freckled) under the blazing sun. They took long walks on the beach and saw a variety of sea life. Harry was thoroughly enjoying his stay.

Draco's presence among them had been awkward at first. It wasn't as if they had ever been friends, but after everything that had happened at the Department of Mysteries, it wasn't as if they could be enemies anymore, either. After sharing something as big as the downfall of a Dark lord, they were somehow forever bonded. Harry also knew how it felt to be alone and the outsider, and he didn't want to make anyone else feel that way – not even Draco Malfoy.

As the long, lazy days passed, everything had worked itself out, anyway. Draco kept himself busy planning and plotting his takeover of his family estate, so he tended to avoid the hot afternoon sun. This gave the two couples plenty of time to be on their own. Like Ron and Harry, Draco also enjoyed the jet skis and would join the others in the evenings for meals and an occasional game of chess. He and Ron were actually much better matched than Harry and Ron had ever been, although Harry knew Ron enjoyed playing Harry more.

Andromeda prepared lavish meals each night, and they would all gather to share tales of their days. Ted Tonks was a friendly, talkative bloke with a fascination for the sea. According to him, there was no better place to be, and he insisted it would always be his mistress. Andromeda wasn't bothered by this in the least, and continued merrily on her way. They were like two separate ships passing occasionally, but their fondness for one another was blatantly apparent.

Andromeda had said that Ted took their daughter's death very hard, and he hadn't quite been the same since. This was readily apparent by Ted's refusal to address Draco. He wasn't rude or unpleasant, simply indifferent – as if Draco wasn't there at all.