Picking Wildflowers

Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, so I do NOT own Draco (Gorgeous) Malfoy, or Harry (Equally as Gorgeous) Potter. I DO, however, own the plot. Please do NOT sue, as all I can give you is a stick of sugar-free gum (which I want…::looks around nervously:: MINE!).

Beta: I would like to thank my Beta, Draco’s Desire, for making sure all of my sentences flow, and that there will be no grammar mistakes...but if there is, let me know and I will be sure to slap her. Thx!

To Reviewers Medra and Anti-Ginny/Harry: You both asked why, since Harry and Ginny are more ‘brother and sister’, they shagged and snogged. There are very simple explanations for that:
1.) Ginny has had a HUGE crush on The Boy Who Lived since Harry’s first year, so when Harry advanced, she wasn’t going to say no. (Oh, come on…would YOU say no to Harry Potter? Didn’t think so. -__- )
2.) Harry is a sixteen year old boy, for crying out loud. Please don’t tell me you think he doesn’t have hormones? Sheesh…(And right now I know Sabby is jumping for joy, knowing now that Harry really doesn’t like Ginny. ::lol:: I thought you’d like that little detail. ^__^ )
By the way, Sabby, the next few chapters are looking to be your chapters! (Yes, your wish come true!) There's a little hinting of (you know what) in this chapter, as well. Enjoy!

A/N: I don’t know if you guys really care, but to ‘those select few…’ (Lol, sorry, I quoted Snape…sheesh, I need a vacation.) who care about this, here I go: I am dreadfully sorry that Ron and Hermione haven’t been in the story much, but they will be soon. I think they’ll be a little in this chapter, and definitely more in the ones to come. Well, Hermione will. Ron will be taking a little detour real soon. ;)

Please Read and Review it! Remember, the more reviews a story gets, or the better the reviews, the more the author will write. If not, they may either lose interest or feel it went so bad they don't want to continue it.

*THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO ANON, FOR SHOWING ME HOW TO USE ITALICS AND BOLD IN MY STORIES. THANKS, ANON!*
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Chapter 10: Draco's Understanding

Draco stared at the doorway where Fred and George just took a blushing Harry. Raising an eyebrow, he went over to the door and leant against the frame, so his body was hidden. Surprisingly, the twins hadn’t placed a silencing charm on the door, so Draco was able to hear some of the conversation being traded.

“…only available through catalogue…” he had heard, but Ginny had dropped something in the front of the store, and had missed the rest. Frowning slightly at the disruption, Draco leaned in closer to eavesdrop. “…I don’t think he wants us watching…” Draco’s eyebrows shot into his hair line as he tried to listen further. What the hell was going on in there?

“…we know from experience…satisfying.” Draco had heard. At once, Draco realized a few things. One, the twins were not as dumb as they looked - ‘Which is pretty dumb.’ Draco thought absently - because they had put a Scrambling Jinx on the door, so one couldn’t hear all of the conversations from within. He also realized that whatever was going on in there, seemed to be X rated, and he was getting pretty…dare he think it?

‘Jealous.’

Draco cleared his mind for the time being and listened intently on the words being exchanged. “…green apple flavored…” ‘What?’ Draco thought anxiously, ‘Green apple flavored WHAT?’…then it hit him… ‘Oh hell no,’ Draco thought, heart beating furiously. ‘Harry’s not into that, is he? I mean…that isn’t like him…’ … ‘No, but it is like Fred and George.’ Draco reminded himself.

Pulling Draco out of his musings was another segment of, “…fuck you while you wank…” Draco stifled a moan; he knew instinctively that Fred and George had meant that they gave Harry a toy to play with, and the thought of Harry pushing a dildo into himself was enough to get Draco completely hard.

Looking down cautiously at himself, Draco was reassured with the fact that he was painfully erect, and would soon need some relief. ‘No time.’ Draco immediately thought, and concentrated on willing his erection away. ‘Snape in a dress, Snape in a dress…’ he thought, hoping it was enough. Still, his erection remained. ‘SNAPE IN A DRESS, DAMMIT!’ he mentally screamed at himself, and sighed silently when his erection had successfully vanished.

Bringing himself back to reality, he vaguely realized he had been zoning out quite a lot that day. Shrugging it off, he listened for the next segment of conversation. Not hearing any for a long stretch of time, he was about to look inside the curtain. He never got to it, however, as he scrambled in a slightly un-Malfoyish manner from the doorway when he heard footsteps approaching.

Harry came out, his face so red with embarrassment, it could rival Ron’s hair. Draco took in Harry’s disheveled appearance, noting how he looked absolutely shaggable. ‘Damn,’ Draco thought. ‘Fucking persistent erection…SNAPE IN A FUCKING DRESS, DAMMIT!’ he thought again hurriedly, hoping Harry couldn’t realize his hard-on.

“Draco, are you okay?” Harry asked, waving a hand in front of Draco’s face.

Draco snapped out of it, and flushed slightly. Smirking softly, he said, “I could ask you the same thing. Must have been a very…interesting conversation with the Weasley twins, huh?” he asked, regaining lost composure and drinking in Harry’s renewed blush.

“Y-yeah, they had some…” Harry coughed nervously, “some…new p-products they want me to, er, try.” he stuttered, avoiding Draco’s eyes like the plague.

Draco smiled in accomplishment and gave Harry a break. Draco put on a mask of indifference, pretending he didn’t notice Harry’s stuttering or averted eyes. “Oh, alright.” he shrugged, barely. “What do you want to do now?”

Harry looked up. “Er, what time is it?” he asked.

Ginny chose that time to break up Harry and Draco’s private talk. “After six.” she replied, walking over to them. In her hands were a few candies and some Hinky-Puff foods. Looking down at her hands, where she had followed Harry’s gaze, she looked back up and replied, “Gum needs food.”

Draco snorted, semi-playfully. “Correct me if I’m wrong, which I never am, by the way, but I don’t think your Hinky-Puff eats Bertie Botts.”

Harry chuckled, “He’s right, you know.” he told Ginny. He took the stuff from her hands and went up to the register. “I’ll pay for it Ginny, don’t worry.”

Ginny walked over to him. “I can do it, Harry. You already paid for my dress.” she reminded, pulling out her money pouch. “Besides, more than half of this money is yours anyway.”

Harry shrugged. “Suppose you’re right.” Turning to Draco, he asked, “Are you getting anything?”

Draco thought for a moment before he remembered and went back over to the Sugar Quills. Harry didn’t ask, but Draco decided to explain. “I have to have something to do in Binn’s class. Bloody ghost is so boring, if he were alive he’d put himself to sleep.” he said. Harry chuckled. Draco turned to him, smiling as he said, “I’m serious!”

Harry only laughed again as Fred and George came out from the back. Immediately, Harry’s face regained his blush and he stopped laughing. Draco had to fight off the irking he had to stare at Harry; he was just to damned adorable!

“Hello, sister.” Fred greeted, taking all of Ginny’s purchases and adding the totals.

“I can ring up your purchases, Malfoy.” George told Draco, gesturing him over to the counter.

“He’s with me,” Harry declined before Draco could move over to the register. George raised an eyebrow curiously, and before he could ask, Harry continued, “We’ll be seeing you, Fred, George.” before turning on his heal and walked out of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.

Fred and George’s expressions matched, both of knowing. Ginny wagged her eyebrows and Draco just shrugged at all of them before heading out the door Harry had just exited. Ginny soon followed, and at once, they both looked for Harry. Looking up and down the road, they saw no sign of the Boy Who Lived.

Ginny rolled her eyes. “Bet you three galleons he’s in Quidditch Supplies Plus.” she gambled easily.

Draco smirked. “Nah, you’d have to be completely mental to bet against that logic. Come on,” he said, gesturing towards the Quidditch shop. As they approached the store, they noticed a huge crowed around the building. “Whoa, what’s going on?” Draco asked aloud to nobody, heading towards the building. He pushed people out of the way, not even caring or realizing that Ginny hadn’t been able to get through.

“…NOT REAL! HE’S USING YOU, HARRY!” Draco heard, and immediately moved faster to get to Harry. Once he got out of the crowed, he saw Harry up against the wall, and Ron Weasley yelling at him, only about an inch from Harry’s face. Draco knew instinctively that Harry was frightened to death; he was breathing deeply and his eyes were glossy with unshed tears. “HE DOESN’T CARE, HARRY!” Ron shouted in Harry’s face, and Harry finally let tears fall.

“Weasley,” Draco growled heavily. “Back off.” he warned, pulling Ron from Harry and going over to the frightened boy. “Harry?” he asked softly, trying to bring the smaller boy into his arms. Harry just looked up at Draco.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. Harry wiped his eyes with his sleeves and looked around; it looked as if the crowd had mostly disappeared, and only a few remained to show support for their savior.

“Shhh…” Draco comforted, “Are you okay?” he asked, then glared at the last people remaining to leave them alone. Once they had gone, Draco turned his worried expression back to Harry, who looked as if he hadn’t been crying just moments ago.

“Yeah, sorry.” he apologized, voice even. “I just got a little…frightened, I suppose.” he mumbled, and tried to side-step Draco. Ron stood behind Draco, as Harry could plainly see, and he didn’t look at all happy. “Ron, could I talk to you more, er, privately?” he asked, and before Ron could answer, Harry grabbed his arm and Disapparated them both to Hogwarts.

Ginny ran up and exclaimed, “Shit! Now where did he go?”

Draco shrugged. “I don’t know.” he replied. Raising an eyebrow, Draco asked, “How did Weasley get here, anyway? I thought the Hogwarts Express was with Durmstrang.”

Ginny’s expression turned from worried to curious in seconds. “I don’t know. Maybe its that ‘transportation’ Dumbledore was telling us about in his letter.” she wondered aloud. Turning to Draco, she asked, “Think we should go back to Hogwarts?”

Draco frowned. “You can. I’ll wait for Harry.” he declined, and moved over to a bench outside Quidditch Supplies Plus.

Ginny rolled her eyes, “Harry’s probably back at Hogwarts right now, Draco. And I don’t know how long the transportation runs.” she told him. “Come on, there is no way we can know where Harry is, so lets just be safe and -”

“Yes there is,” Draco interrupted. He pulled out Harry’s wrapped gift and stared at it.

Ginny’s eyes widened. “You actually bought that for him? Oh Merlin, I’ll bet that cost a bunch!” she noted. Ginny had known since Draco asked about the Marauders Map what he was going to get for Harry.

Draco chuckled and nodded. Before he could make a decision about using it, Harry Apparated back outside Quidditch Supplies Plus. “Sorry for just leaving you, I needed to talk to Ron.” Harry apologized again. Draco hurriedly stuffed Harry’s gift back in his jeans and stood. “You guys ready to go back?” Harry asked, oblivious to Draco’s hiding.

“Yes, that sounds wonderful. We’ve been away since nine; I’m hungry!” Ginny exclaimed.

Harry rolled his eyes as Ginny wrapped her arms around his waist. “Do all the Weasley’s have endless pits for stomachs? Because I was under the impression that it was only Ron.” he mused mockingly. Ginny slapped him playfully on the arm. Turning to Draco, Harry asked, “Are you staying here? Because I’m wanting to get home, and I’ll just bet Pansy’s dying, knowing you left her to hang with the Boy Who Lived.”

Draco frowned, but walked over to Harry and grabbed his arm tightly. He tisked, and replied, “Doubt it. She’s probably jealous.” Harry just chuckled and Disapparated all three of them back to the entrance to the Great Hall.

“Finally! Food time!” Ginny exclaimed, and proceeded to pull Harry into the Great Hall with her.

Before Harry got to far away, he called, “See you later, Draco!” and continued to be dragged over to his table with his girlfriend.

Draco smiled at Harry and walked over to his own table, as well. Just about everyone was there, including Pansy, who had - very conveniently - saved Draco a seat next to her. Draco moaned mentally. He did NOT want to have to repeat the days events with Harry to his jealous girlfriend, but he knew that’s what was coming. Sitting, he began to pile food on his plate while ignoring Pansy’s pointed stare.

Pansy cleared her throat while not ceasing her glare at Draco. When he still didn’t look, she cleared her throat louder, but not overly loud as to draw attention to herself from more than the people close to her. Draco turned to look at her, before beginning to eat and asking, “Do you need to see Madam Pomfrey, Pansy? You sound a bit sick today.”

“Oh, Draco! Just shut up and tell me, already!” she ordered, leaning in to hear every word out of the aristocratic blondes mouth.

Draco grinned. “That was an oxy-moron, Pansy, dear. If I shut up, how am I to tell you what happened today, hmm?” he asked, showing his knowledge and taking the chance to make Pansy look stupid. ‘Which she doesn’t need any help with, though.’ he thought to himself as an after thought.

Pansy almost screamed in frustration. “Draconis Lucius Malfoy,” she snarled, “you tell me right this instant what happened today.” ‘Oh HELL no,’ was Draco’s only thought to that. “What did you guys do? Did he talk about me at all? Where did you shop?”

“Pansy, calm down.” Draco suggested, speaking in a tone that seemed appropriate for a two year old. “We shopped, mostly. No, he didn’t talk about you any, and we went to Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, Quidditch Supplies Plus, and Madam Malkins. Alright?”

Pansy was listening with rapt attention, and as soon as Draco stopped talking, she asked another question. “What’d you talk about?” she asked, not bothering to eat.

Draco chewed the food in his mouth slowly, trying to remember everything he and Harry had talked about. Though, it wasn’t very hard; he cherished every moment with Harry. It was just sometimes, he would daze out and forget exactly what they had been talking about.

After Draco successfully swallowed, he replied, “At first, we were talking about Harry’s money; we went to Gringotts, and got quite a shock from seeing his vault. After we left there,” he continued, “we were talking about outfits for the Welcoming Ball. Then Harry had to go to Quidditch Supplies Plus. While he was looking there, well,” he paused, wondering wither or not it was wise to let Pansy know of Harry’s Birthday Party.

“Well? Well, what?” Pansy asked, leaning towards Draco.

Draco put a finger to her arm and got her to lean away from him before he spoke again. He hesitated, at first, but he saw no way out of it and sighed as he answered, “I was invited to Harry’s Birthday Party tomorrow.”

Pansy’s eyes widened and she looked at Draco hopefully. Draco again took the route to pointedly ignore her, and continue his meal. Just when he had begun believing Pansy had dropped the subject, Pansy made her voice sickly-sweet as she batted her eyelashes.

“Can I go with you?” she asked, pouting terribly; a trait she had tried to pick up from Draco when he was younger. Draco cursed himself mentally for ever teaching her that sodded pout, but took a sort of accomplishment knowing he did it a hell of a lot better.

Draco shrugged as much as being a Malfoy would allow. “I don’t know if I’m aloud to bring a friend, Pansy. Besides, how do you know Harry would want you there?” he asked, then took his last drink of Pumpkin Juice. “I know the Weaslette won’t like you there.”

Pansy rolled her eyes, effectively stopping the pout. “You could just ask him if you could bring your girlfriend, couldn’t you?” she asked hopefully.

Draco took that moment to sigh silently, and turn to Pansy. “Pansy, I don’t think I want to go out with you anymore.” he said bluntly. “It’s nothing personal, of course. Just, you have this whole…infatuation with Harry, and it’s bloody distracting.”

Pansy’s eyes sparkled. “I’m single!” she exclaimed happily. “Merlin, I was hoping you’d dump me soon. I know no one ever dumps you, and I wasn’t about to break that.”

Draco just smiled. “I suppose I could ask Weaslette if I could bring a friend or two.” he muttered aloud.
Pansy raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t Harry know you’re going to be there?” she asked, looking over to the Gryffindor table.

Draco silently followed Pansy’s gaze. He searched for the messy crop of black hair, and quickly spotted it, in between two red-heads. Ginny was on Harry’s right, talking animatedly with the Thomas guy, while Harry was talking with Ron. Seemed as if they had worked out their problem; more over, that Ron had dropped the ‘Malfoy’s using you’ subject. But Draco knew the thought wasn’t entirely gone, and that Ron still believed him to be using Harry.

As if sensing eyes on him, Harry looked up and his gaze was met with the soft blue-gray one of Draco’s. Draco smiled slightly, and Pansy blushed before turning back to her meal. Harry smiled knowingly before turning back to Ron and continuing his conversation.

“I think he has an inkling.” Draco replied after a few moments of silence.

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Around eight, everyone began piling out of the Great Hall. Ginny and Harry left at the same time, though Ginny was still talking to Dean and Harry and Ron were mechanically chatting about Quidditch. Draco spotted his chance and went over to Ginny, and excused her from Dean’s presence for a moment.

“Draco, what do you need?” she asked curiously, walking to a spot near a wall.

Draco cleared his throat. “Well, I was wondering, if I could bring a friend or two to Harry’s party?” he ventured, pleading with his eyes.

Ginny’s eyebrows rose into her hairline. “Slytherins?” she asked, though it came out more of a statement. “You want to bring…Slytherins to Harry’s sixteenth Birthday Party?” she wondered, disbelievingly.

Draco nodded. “I don’t think Harry will mind; I think he’s rather fond of some of my friends.” Draco told her. Of course, he was referring to the fact that Harry was a Slytherin in this other dimension in Harry’s coma, where he probably knew just about all the sixth year Slytherins. “Please? I’m not going to bring everyone in Sixth year, only the ones comfortable with Harry.”

Ginny stood, debating the idea. After a few more moments of thought, she looked up at Draco and replied, “Only if you guys can add a party favor.” she compromised, staring at Draco pointedly.

Draco raised an eyebrow, “What kind of party favor?” he asked, crossing his arms in a Malfoyish demeanor.

“Booze and party games.” she replied instantly. “We have Butter-beer, and a few games, but anything from Slytherin is probably better than a Gryffindor could come up with.” she noted mockingly, trying to butter Draco up. He was oblivious to her works, and just smirked in accomplishment. “Okay, so no people above or below sixth year, and not the entire sixth year, booze, and party games.” she reminded.

Smiling, Draco nodded. “What time does the party start?” he wondered.

“Three o’clock tomorrow.” she answered. “Any other questions? Dean’s waiting for me.” she noted, and Draco also looked and found not Harry waiting for his girlfriend, but Dean Thomas, Harry’s mate, waiting for Ginny. Deciding not to ask, Draco just shook his head at the question.

“I’ve got a few things to do before tomorrow, so I’ll be seeing you.” he said, then turned to leave.

“Oi, Draco!” Ginny called moments after. Draco turned and waited. “Can you come by Gryffindor Tower at about, eight in the morning tomorrow? I was wondering if you wanted to spend the day with Harry so we could decorate the tower?”

Draco smiled at the thought, and instantly nodded. “See you,” he said, and proceeded to head towards the dungeons.

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A/N: Ok, so I am very sorry for the delay in updating...again. If it makes anyone feel any better, the next chapter is partially done, and should be up sometime this weekend, Monday or Tuesday ant the latest.

Please Review. I like to know how I'm doing, and readers have seemed to start slacking on their reviews. Pah-Weese? It doesn't hurt, I promise!