“Are you calling me stupid?” Draco said through gritted teeth.
“At this point, I think I have every right to do so,” Potter retorted.
“Fuck you, Potter! You act so high and mighty, but you told me you just wanted to be friends.”
“I never said I wanted to be just friends.”
“Oh, so this is all my fault?”
“You were leading me on!”
“I’m not going to sit here and listen to this bollocks,” Draco barked, jumping out of his seat so fast, the chair fell over. “You don’t get to make me the bad guy anymore.”
As soon as he got outside, Draco hesitated. If he walked away now, would that be it? Technically, he was single now; as was Potter.
Draco let out a humourless laugh. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.
Just as he drew his wand and got ready to Apparate, somebody grabbed his shoulder and whirled him around.
“You’re seriously going to leave?” Potter barked. “I can’t believe you!”
“Why? Because the fight is only over when you’ve won?” Draco huffed.
“Why can’t we just talk about this like normal people?”
“Oh, so you think I’m some kind of abomination?”
“No, I think you’re a coward!”
Snarling, Draco narrowed his eyes. How dare he!
“You have no idea—”
“Oh yeah?” Potter interrupted him. “Then prove it! Go to Cho’s wedding with me tomorrow. Or are you too much of a wimp to—”
“FINE,” Draco bellowed, fuming. “But you have to pick me up at the Manor.”
“FINE,” Potter yelled back. “I’ll be there at nine. Wear the Muggle suit.”
“Duh.”
“I swear to Merlin, Draco—”
“Whatever,” he spat. He was so mad, he couldn’t even look at Potter. “Don’t be late.”
He took a step backwards and Apparated to the Manor. He was still shaking with anger when he tossed his clothes on the floor and climbed into bed, completely ignorant to the fact that it was only seven o’clock.
Who did Potter think he was? That wanker! He would pay for calling Draco a coward! Draco would prove to him he was anything but! If it was the last thing he would do!
He turned to his side, clutching his blanket and shoving one hand under the pillow. Bloody Potter!
As Draco kept repeating that over and over for hours in his mind, the prickling sensation on the back of his neck got more intense, accompanied by the fluttery feeling of his stomach doing somersaults.
Bloody Potter, he thought one last time as his eyes fluttered closed and the tiniest of smiles slowly crept its way onto his lips.
Saturday, 24 May 2003
Why? Why had Draco agreed to come here with Potter?
Apparently, it didn’t matter he had already seen Potter wearing that bloody Muggle suit when they had picked it out together; it knocked the breath out of him nonetheless every time he glanced over at him.
He hadn’t been able to say anything but gibberish since Potter had shown up, looking all handsome and spectacular, complimenting Draco on how good he looked, consequently frying his brain. His magic had gone bonkers again when Potter had touched his arm to Apparate them, to which Potter had only grinned knowingly. Draco’s mother would go ballistic when she found out he had destroyed one of her favourite vases. But Draco couldn’t care less about that right now. Right now, he was far more concerned about not making a fool out of himself while he stood there awkwardly, eyeing Potter out of the corner of his eyes. He looked uncomfortable as well, fidgeting with his tie. Little beads of sweat were forming on his forehead, glistening in the sunlight. It was an exceptionally warm day, which Potter didn’t seem to like. It probably didn’t help that the wedding was about to be held right here, in Chang’s garden, with no shade and a bunch of Muggles, which made it impossible to use magic.
“You, err, you want something to drink?” Potter asked. Draco stared at his lips as he spoke, realising too late that he wasn’t exactly being subtle about it.
“Oh, um, no.”
“Right.” Potter licked his lips and absentmindedly scratched his beard. Fuck! Was he trying to drive Draco mad?
“Do you want to—”
“Merlin’s beard! It’s Harry Potter!”
They both turned around to find an old man gaping at them. Well, at Potter.
“Mr. Potter, such an honour to finally meet you. Howard Chamberlain.” He grabbed Potter’s hand with both of his and shook it enthusiastically. Potter smiled awkwardly. “I hope I’m not overstepping, but I’ve been dying to know. There have been many tales about your victory over You-Know-Who.” He leaned closer and Draco noticed he was still clutching Potter’s hand. “Is it true you defeated him with the Elder Wand? Do you still have it?”
Draco rolled his eyes, ready to tell the wizard off. Before he got the chance, however, Potter patted the old man’s arm.
“That’s a secret I’ll be taking to my grave, I’m afraid,” he said.
Annoyance flickered over the wizard’s face, which he quickly tried to mask with a smile.
“Of course.” Finally, he let go of Potter’s hand but kept scrutinising him. “I was very sorry to hear about your relationship with young Mrs. Weasley. Are you here on your own?”
Before Draco knew what was happening, he felt a hand on his hip which pulled him against Potter’s side.
“I’m not, actually,” Potter said, his lips stretching into a devious smile. The heat of the sun suddenly seemed to burn Draco alive. It was the same gesture Potter had used to make Draco jealous. Only, now, he was the one Potter was claiming.
They hadn’t discussed the details of today’s…arrangement. Yes, Draco was here as Potter’s date, but they hadn’t talked about whether or not they would be open about it. While Draco knew his mother had strong suspicions about his preference, it had been very much implied on numerous occasions he was never to make it public knowledge. Well, so much for that.
It was more than surprising that Potter was acting like this, actually. After everything he had told him, Draco had been sure he wanted to keep a low profile, especially when it came to his private life. All it would take was some shady reporter behind a bush, taking some pictures, and the whole Wizarding World would go bonkers. Speaking of which…
The old wizard was still gawking at them, shock written all over his face.
“But—But that’s Draco Malfoy,” he spluttered. Draco’s stomach lurched uncomfortably. Even though he wanted to hex the wizard, his eyes inadvertently wandered over to Potter’s face when he felt him pulling him closer.
“I’m a lucky guy, aren’t I?” Potter said, his eyes piercing Draco’s. The world around them suddenly seemed to come to a halt. Draco knew Potter had just said that to provoke the old wizard, but the way he was looking at him…It almost made Draco believe Potter actually meant it. He had no idea how long they were standing there like this, staring at each other, until somebody bumped into Draco, yanking him back to reality. Potter seemed a bit startled, too, and removed his hand from Draco’s hip.
