As much as Harper would have thoroughly enjoyed a fruit pie or two, he was glad Philip hadn't put himself out even more for him. It wouldn't have felt right to invite him over for a dinner and expect him to bring something along as well. "Oh no please don't think I was fishing for that when I said that." he said as he turned around with the two glasses of firewhiskey. Just in time to catch what he as almost sure was a bit of a blush on his cheeks.

Sitting back down at the table, he passed the drink over to Philip. "Though of course if you happened to have some ready at another time, I'm sure I could pop by and relieve you of them." he said with a cheeky smile, raising his glass in a cheers gesture and taking a large swig.

  

"Oh, of course not. Part of my joy in life is giving my friends a delicious treat or two." He did not add that he tended to a bit more than that for Harper for that was something that Philip did not realize about his own self. But on a deep, subconscious level, he felt it was important for Harper to feel valued and cared for by him.

"I am sure you will," he chuckled as he took a drink of his own firewhiskey. "This meal really has been lovely. Any plans to learn another dish?" Not that he would mind it if all Harper ever was able to cook was curry for the rest of their lives.

---

  

---

— set by MJ —

Harper was sure that Philip did not provide anywhere near as much food for his other friends than he did for Harper. Not that he was complaining, nor did it seem that Philip was complaining. "Well I am rather glad to hear that, because your delicious treats are a major source of joy in my life." As the words left his mouth, his mind froze. What was that sentence. He meant it, but what was it that he meant?

Perhaps it was best to just move on from that. "You're too kind. I will admit I rather enjoyed it, and it would be prudent to pick up a few recipes I imagine." Finishing the last sip of his firewhisky, he placed the glass down on the table. "Now, I believe I mentioned a tour might be on offer? Would you still be interested? I don't have a lot of visitors so it would be interesting to show it off. If you're interested of course."

  

There was no possibly way to describe hearing Harper describe things that way. He very much liked the thought of being the one to provide joy in Harpers life but why should that be? He was the sort to enjoy making his friends happy, always had been, but this was on a different level that he could not explain.

"Oh, yes. I would very much love a tour. I must admit I have been curious to see where you live." They were always at his shop, it felt like. And his own home had his mother milling about.

---

  

---

— set by MJ —

"Very well, let the tour commence!" As he stood from his chair, he gestured towards a second door of the dining room "Though I now fear that I may have oversold the house with my enthusiasm." Opening the door, he walked through into the library.

"This is my favourite room in the house, and where I spend perhaps all of my time while I am home." All four walls of the room had floor to ceiling bookshelves built in, broken up only by two windows, two doors, and a fireplace. The bookshelves themselves were crowded to capacity with books and scrolls, with precarious stacks of even more tomes on any spare surface and even the floor itself. A cosy armchair was positioned near the fireplace, its red velvet upholstery blending neatly with the layered rugs that covered the wooden flooring.

Harper almost breathed a sigh of relief. Any awkward tension he may have been feeling earlier over the evening melted as he entered what he saw was the heart of his home. It may not have looked it, but every book, every parchment, was in an exact location, ready to be pulled out at a moments notice. He turned, one hand on the back of the chair, and smiled at Philip, hoping that Philip liked it just as much as he did.

A Floorplan (minus the morning room on the ground level, and the back half of the basement)

  

Philip moved to follow the other man as Harper stood from his chair. "I am sure it is fine," he chuckled when Harper professed to fearing that he might have oversold the house. As they moved into a library, Philip smiled as Harper said it was his favorite room in the house. "You have quite the collection," he observed as he looked around, letting his fingers lightly run over a few of the titles he recognized on the shelves.

"It has such a cozy feel. I can see why this is your main spot." Curling up in a cozy seat was always rather nice.

---

  

---

— set by MJ —

When Philip complimented his collection, he couldn't help but beam. This library was his absolute pride and joy, in much the same way as Philip would see his kitchen and the food that came out of it. And it was in that moment, in a sudden awakening, that Harper finally realised why he enjoyed seeing Philip so often. Why he was so happy that Philip liked his library. And why he was watching his fingers trace along the spines of the books.

He was sure that Philip felt the same. After all, why would he be cooking for him so often? And, as Harper looked back on flashes of the times they had spent together, Philip had certainly been more flirtatious than Harper had. How could he have not noticed it all before now? "Thank you so much Philip. This library is my pride and joy." he said as he moved a few steps closer to Philip, resting his hand on the bookshelf in front of where Philip was standing.

  

"I can see why," Philip said when Harper proclaimed the library to be his pride and joy. He felt much the same about his shop. He had put so much of himself into it and it truly delighted him when people enjoyed his food. Oblivious, Philip turned and smiled up at the taller man as his friend moved closer. It made him feel a little tense but he didn't know why he should be tense. "Were you needing something from this particular shelf?" He asked, wondering i Harper was trying to draw his attention to something in particular.

---

  

---

— set by MJ —

Harper could feel his heart racing, as he debated internally for a split second what he was about to do. He was certain that he had finally realised what signals Philip had been sending, and that Harper had been sending them back. Surely this would come as no great surprise to Philip. And now that he had moved closer, it was too late to back out now. Looking at Philip's slightly messy hair and kind, hazel eyes, Harper was feeling like he could easily get lost in them for hours. Swallowing slightly, Harper made up his mind. Honesty was after all the best policy. So he brought his hand up from the shelf and towards Philip's face, leaning in and down slightly to aim for a kiss.

  

Philip felt a bit frozen in confusion as Harper kept coming closer. His skin felt heated under the touch of the other mans hand on his face. What was happening? Quite honestly, his brain felt like it was short-circuiting as Harpers lips met his own. He returned the kiss for a moment, pressing up against the other mans lips. Then his brain kicked in and he pushed Harper back from himself. "Wait, what? What's happening?" He stammered, trying to make sense of things.

---

  

---

— set by MJ —

It was as if time had stopped while they were kissing, Harper’s heart pounding in his chest. He could feel Philip begin to kiss him back, but just as suddenly as it began the moment was over. Harper staggered backwards two steps as Philip pushed him away, his face flushed with excitement that was very, very quickly becoming embarrassment. Did he read it all wrong? Was he making it all up in his head? ”I - uh... I” He couldn’t form any words, his mind was reeling and desperately trying to salvage a situation that was impossible to salvage. ”I’m sorry” he finally managed to stutter out ”I must have misread something. Oh Merlin I’m sorry.” Harper reached out his hand towards Philips shoulder, his face pleading for his apology to be accepted.

  

Quite honestly, Philip was not adverse to having been kissed by Harper. But he was overwhelmed. Suspecting oneself of having certain attractions was one thing but it was quite another for him to suddenly be confronted with the evidence of it so.. intensely. Or at least it felt intense to him. "It's not that," Philip said, his skin flushing even more at Harpers obvious embarrassment. ""I'm sorry." He meant it as a 'I just need space to think' but remained oblivious that he should have added on those words before apparating out.

/wrap?

  

---

— set by MJ —