A Love So Belated
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
46,653
Reviews:
358
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
46,653
Reviews:
358
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 4: Intimate Confessions
Chapter Number/Total: 4/48
Chapter Title: Intimate Confessions
Words: 3767 Words
A week later a large Eagle Owl appeared and tapped at a window of the Burrow.
Harry was sitting at the kitchen table with Ron and Ginny, eating breakfast.
Ron looked around at the tapping and stood to cross to the window, pulling it open for the bird. "Looks official," he said, reaching for the letter.
"If I get another damn letter from the Ministry about that speech, I'm going to murder the lot of them," Harry said, dropping his fork to his plate with a clatter.
"And I'll help," said Ginny soothingly, kissing Harry lightly on the cheek.
Ron shrugged, handing the letter over to Harry.
The parchment was thick and expensive. Harry's name was written in a fine calligraphy that was not like most Ministry letters. And the back was sealed with a wax crest. Harry raised an eyebrow at it. "It looks official, but not Ministry official," he said. He pulled at the wax, opening the envelope and reaching inside for the letter.
He was surprised when he saw that it was from Malfoy, inviting him to the coming weekend's Falmouth Falcons Quidditch game for which he had an extra ticket. Was this serious? Harry looked up from the letter to see Ginny looking at him strangely, having read over his shoulder.
"Why would Draco Malfoy be inviting you to a Quidditch game?" she asked, sounding genuinely confused. Harry wished she wouldn't have asked with Ron in the room.
"That's from Malfoy?" Ron asked. "He's inviting you to a Quidditch game?"
Harry shrugged. "Looks like it," he replied, handing the letter to him so he could see.
"But why?" he asked when he'd read.
Harry shrugged again. "Because he has an extra ticket, I guess."
"But why would he invite you?" Ron pressed.
"All right," said Harry. "I get that it's a little strange. Maybe he just wants some company."
Ron raised his eyebrows very high on his forehead. "So he contacts Harry Potter out of the blue because he wants company to a Quidditch game?"
"I saw him when I was out last week," Harry said. He hadn't mentioned the meeting to anyone, because he hadn't wanted to deal with the questions, but he could already see Ron's and Ginny's minds working to form them. "We had a butterbeer, talked a little. No big deal."
Ginny laughed a little. "With Malfoy? You went and had a butterbeer with Malfoy? Just – just randomly?"
"I helped him out of a scuffle," Harry said, frowning slightly. "And we agreed to maybe meet up again. I guess he just has another ticket. No big deal," he repeated.
"Why would he want you there?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Harry said, raising his eyebrows now. "I'm not Malfoy. He was all right when I talked to him."
"You mean he didn't act like a complete prat?" Ron asked.
Harry shook his head. "No, he was all right," he said again.
"Malfoy was all right?" Ron asked.
Harry laughed at him. "Just because he's Malfoy doesn't mean he can't be all right."
"Yes, it does," Ron replied, eyebrows shooting up.
Harry shrugged and rolled his eyes.
"Are you going to go?" Ginny asked now.
Harry looked back at the letter, at the date. "Well, nothing's going on then," he said. "Why not? The Falcons are a pretty good team. It's a free Quidditch game. He probably has really good seats, too."
"You mean you're actually going to go?" said Ron, looking at Harry like he thought he was mad.
Harry rolled his eyes again. "Yes, I'm actually going to go," he said. "Have you got a quill lying around anywhere?"
Ron was still looking at him with the same expression of disbelief on his face.
Ginny shook her head at her brother, getting up from the table to fetch quill, ink and parchment for Harry.
"Thank you," Harry said to her, penning his quick response:
Sounds great. Meet you at your place the day of.
Harry
He got up and walked over to the window, attaching his note to the leg of Draco's owl. It took off almost right away and he watched it go with a small smile on his face.
He turned back around to see Ron still gawking at him. "I can't believe you just did that," he said.
Harry shrugged again. "You think I'm mad?" he asked Ginny.
She walked over to him, slipping her arms about his waist. "No," she said. "If he was all right, then he was all right. Plus, it is a free Quidditch match."
He smiled at her and she kissed him.
Ron made a face at them and sat back down at the table to finish eating.
***
The weekend came quickly and Harry was glad for it. He'd had to endure Ron's rants about Malfoy and how his asking Harry to a Quidditch match was probably some sort of trap. Ron wasn't being completely serious, but he couldn't understand why Harry wanted to go.
Harry did want to go, though. It had only been a couple weeks since he'd seen Malfoy and he found he was actually looking forward to it a bit – plus, he did still feel sort of sorry for him. He still wasn't sure if Malfoy deserved it, but he couldn't help feeling that way. He dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and then set off for Malfoy Manor. He arrived around three and stood on the doorstep again, bringing his hand up to knock.
The house-elf Apparated in front of him almost immediately.
Expecting it this time, Harry wasn't surprised. "I'm here to see Draco," he said.
"Master Malfoy be here soon," the elf said and disappeared again. Before Harry had much time to wait, the door opened and Draco stood holding it. "You are on time," he said, smiling and sounding surprised.
Harry smiled back, amused. "Wasn't expecting me to be?" he asked. "Besides, it's Quidditch."
"I don't remember you being very punctual," Draco teased. "Shall we go, or did you want to come in?"
"I'm ready if you are," Harry told him. "Unless you have something to do before we leave."
Draco stepped out and closed the door behind himself. "I'm ready. I can take you on a Side-Along," he said, holding out his arm.
"Oh. Okay," Harry said, taking a tight hold of the offered arm.
Draco felt a shiver of pleasure at Harry's touch but did his best not to let it show on his face. He laid his hand over Harry’s and Apparated them to the stadium.
Harry released Draco's arm once they'd arrived and looked around. It wasn't as big as the stadium had been at the World Cup, but it was very large.
"Out of there," a wizard told them, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. They'd obviously appeared at one of the Apparition points. They moved just in time for another two people to appear right where they'd been standing.
"Only us?" Harry asked, looking at Draco.
"In a crowded stadium?" Draco asked, arching eyebrows.
Harry snorted. "I mean have you invited anyone else?" he said.
"Who else would I invite?" Draco asked. "Just us."
Harry nodded, wondering then how Draco had ended up with an extra ticket. They handed their tickets to a witch and were then allowed into the stadium, where they began climbing stairs. "Have you got a box?" Harry asked.
Draco smiled and nodded. "Yes, we have a box."
"All to ourselves?" Harry asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Yes," Draco said as he climbed the stairs. He glanced at Harry to see his reaction.
"Pretty impressive," Harry said with a smile, though he once again wondered how Draco had ended up with the extra ticket. But what did it matter? It didn't really. It was possible that he was about to spend hours completely alone with Malfoy. Harry thought about that, wondering what they would talk about.
They reached the box and Draco sat down in one of the very comfortable seats. "You like?" he asked, gesturing to the perfect view.
"Wow," Harry said, raising his eyebrows. He walked over to the edge, bending over slightly to see how far up they were. "This is brilliant."
Draco admired the view – of Harry's arse. "Yes, it is," he agreed.
Harry smiled and walked over to sit next to Draco. "How have you been?" he asked.
"Well, I have come up with some new potions, or at least more efficient procedures for them than previously existed," Draco replied, sitting back and crossing an ankle on his knee.
"Really?" Harry asked, nodding. He wondered if that was all Draco did. "That's pretty good for it only being a week since I saw you. Nice of you to invite me, by the way."
"Well, you always did enjoy Quidditch," Draco reasoned.
"Still do." Harry really couldn't help it. His curiosity was too much. "Who was the ticket for? Before me, I mean," he asked
Draco shrugged. "We have season tickets."
"Oh," Harry replied. So Draco had just invited him because he actually had wanted him to go. Harry didn't ask any more questions about it and a voice suddenly boomed over the crowd, announcing the names of players. He watched the figures in dark gray and white robes zoom out onto the pitch. "Falcons play nasty," he said with a grin.
Draco smirked. "You like that, do you?" he asked.
"Definitely interesting to watch," Harry answered. "I read one of the Beaters broke some other bloke's jaw last month."
Draco actually laughed. "Such a violent streak," he teased.
Harry snorted. "Yes, I'm very violent," he said.
Draco enjoyed watching the game with Harry. Really, he enjoyed watching Harry watch the game. He loved his enthusiasm and it made it easier to relax and forget his troubles for a while.
"Oh!" Harry shouted, standing up halfway. "Did you see that!" One of the Chasers had just been nearly knocked from her broom. "That has to be a foul." He was enjoying himself too. Well, how could he not at a game? But it was fun with Malfoy and it felt almost like they were actually friends, especially since watching the game was sparing them an awkward conversation.
Draco found himself getting caught up in the game with Harry, leaning forward and yelling with him.
Harry grinned at Draco. "Bit weird to be rooting for the same team, eh?" he said.
"Yes," Draco said with a laugh. He wondered if Harry knew just how much they had been on the same side when it counted.
"It's nice," Harry agreed, and then blushed, which he found horrifying. Why was that embarrassing?
Draco found himself leaning closer and occasionally touching Harry's arm. It felt amazing. And Harry looked so happy.
When the Snitch was finally spotted, Harry jumped to his feet, watching the dive and shouting for the Falcon's Seeker to go faster.
Draco stood too, watching the game but also standing close to the other man. He watched his flushed and happy face, grinning as he did.
"Yes!" Harry yelled, punching the air as the Seeker in gray raised his hand in obvious triumph. The crowd roared its approval, screaming and clapping.
"Falcons catch the Snitch!" came the booming voice. "310 – 425, Falcons win!"
Harry clapped and whooped along with everyone else, smiling widely. "That was excellent," he said.
Draco clapped too, a wide grin on his face. "Good game," he agreed.
Harry was still smiling as he watched the victorious Seeker make his rounds about the pitch. "So, you going home?" he asked Draco after a moment.
Draco's smile faltered but then he cocked his head. "Want to go for something to eat?" he asked.
Harry shrugged. "Sure," he said with another real smile. "I am actually hungry."
"Good, let's find a place for dinner."
They left the stadium within a few minutes and found a good restaurant a very short time later. A Muggle place, actually, that Harry had picked – they served excellent curry. They were seated, and had ordered their food, and now Harry sat looking at Draco. "Ginny loved those earrings by the way," he said, sipping his soda. "Did I tell you that already?"
Draco kept his smile even at the mention of Harry's girlfriend, but it was an effort. "I'm glad that worked out for you."
"Yeah, me too," Harry said with a waggle of his eyebrows. Ginny had liked the earrings very much. He didn't elaborate, though he sort of wanted to. He hadn't had a good conversation about girls for a long time. It was hard to do while dating your best friend's sister. But, Merlin, he couldn't actually do that with Malfoy, could he? Well, he was as good as any other bloke really.
Draco's eyes widened and he flushed slightly. He wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to hear about this. But on the other hand, it might help Harry talk to him. "That good?" he asked with a slightly forced smile.
"Well, yeah," Harry said, oblivious to Draco's discomfort. "You know how bloody hard it was though, with all those people to hide from? I would've rather done it out in the woods or something."
"How did you manage?" Draco asked, shifting slightly. Thinking about Harry having sex with the girl brought a strange combination of jealousy and arousal.
"Well, I didn't know we were going to do it," Harry answered. "She just sprung it on me when I was walking up the stairs and we went into her room. Ron came and knocked, looking for me right in the middle." He laughed darkly at the memory.
Draco grimaced at the idea of Ron walking in on them. "I gather that wouldn't have gone well," he guessed.
Harry let out another dark laugh. "He would've killed me," he said. "Best mate or not."
"Was that your ... first time?" Draco asked, wanting to kick himself but not being able to help his curiosity.
Harry flushed now. "Er – I, well ... yeah, it ... yeah," he said. "I mean, we did some stuff before that, but that was the first time."
"With anyone?" Draco asked before he could stop himself.
Harry flushed brighter. "Yeah," he said shortly.
Draco smirked. "I suppose that means you enjoyed it."
Harry laughed strangely. "I think I might have even if it hadn't been the first time."
Draco nodded. It had been a while for him. The last two years hadn't been a good time to be in a relationship. Not that anyone would be seen with him now. "Mine was a while ago," he admitted.
"Yeah?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. "In school?"
"Fourth year," Draco said, nodding.
"Fourth year?" Harry's eyes widened. "How did you manage that?"
Draco grinned and his eyebrows rose. "I was rather popular, you know," he drawled.
Harry snorted. "Yeah, I guess," he said. "Who with – if you don't mind me asking," he added quickly.
"The first time with a girl was Pansy," Draco answered.
Harry's eyebrows lowered quite a lot and he frowned. "Pansy – yeah that's what I figured." He was silent for a moment in which he concentrated on drinking his soda again, then he cleared his throat oddly. "You've, um, you've done stuff not involving a girl?" he asked, flushing again and suddenly feeling rather strange.
Draco smiled, arching an eyebrow and nodding. "Yes, I have," he answered.
Harry's eyes widened again. "Oh," he said. "I didn't – I didn't know you were ...."
"Were what?" Draco asked, amused.
Harry looked up quickly before he looked down at his glass again. "Well, into blokes," he said, voice quiet, as if he wanted to save Draco some sort of trouble.
Draco shrugged. "My reputation in school was pretty wild," he said. "Now, my sex life, even if I had one, isn't what most people are concerned about."
Harry looked up again. "I guess," he said, still hung up on the fact that Malfoy fancied blokes and had done stuff with one, or maybe even several. How had he not heard about this in school?
"So you only fancy girls?" Draco asked, wanting to kick himself again but unable to resist asking.
Harry moved around a bit in his seat. "Yeah," he said, flushing so brightly he had to look away yet again and pretend that he suddenly really wanted to eat.
Draco tried to control his disappointment, shrugging as if it didn't matter to him. "I don't like to set limits on myself like that," he replied a bit defensively.
"Well, I don't – I don't have a problem with it or anything," Harry said to Draco's tone. "It's what you like, so, well, it's what you like."
"I like specific people, not necessarily all women or all men," Draco tried to explain, suddenly wanting Harry to understand him. "The things I find attractive happen to occur in both."
"What do you find attractive?" Harry asked, not really sure why he was asking at all. It seemed the polite thing to do.
Draco blushed and looked down. This had gotten into dangerous territory. He tried to compose his thoughts. "Well," he said slowly, "I guess I like intensity for one thing."
"Intensity?" Harry said, raising an eyebrow.
Draco nodded, glancing up at him.
"Oh," Harry said. "I guess that's something in men and women both."
"It's not like the physical isn't important too, though," Draco added. "It's just that it seems to follow the attraction instead of dictate it."
"Yeah, I understand that," Harry said. "I guess I like girls that aren't too ... weepy," he said. "Or really ... too girly, I guess. If that makes sense."
"I noticed," Draco smirked.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Did you?" he asked, slightly amused.
"You seem to like Quidditch players," the blond said.
"Yeah," Harry confirmed. "Cho though – I mean, I guess you know about her – she cried when I kissed her."
Draco winced. "She ... cried?" he asked, perplexed by the admission. "Why the hell would she cry?"
"Yeah – I think it was because of Cedric," Harry said quietly, "but then later, she got jealous of Hermione. We pretty much stopped talking after that."
"You and ... Granger?" Draco asked, curious.
"No," Harry laughed. "I think Cho was jealous because Hermione was just another girl. Me and Hermione – she's like my sister. She's with Ron now. It's always been them."
Draco almost made a quip about thinking it had always been the three of them. He held it back and nodded. "So are you in love with the Weasley girl?" he asked.
Harry frowned thoughtfully. "I love her," he said. "I really, really like her. She's beautiful, and she makes me laugh, and she loves me, so, yeah, I guess so."
Draco schooled his face so as not to show his reaction to that. He nodded. "I guess it's right that you finally get to have a life after everything," he said softly.
Harry smiled a little. "Yeah, it's nice," he admitted. "Not having to worry anymore. It's almost boring." He chuckled quietly.
Draco could relate to that. Two years of fear, isolation and abuse had left him exhausted. Only the isolation didn't seem to be anywhere near over. Most of his old friends were dead or in prison. Few people would associate with him now. "Yes, quiet now," he said.
"Well, maybe you need a girl – or a boy – friend," Harry said, flushing slightly again. "It makes things a little more fun."
Draco cocked his head. "Yes, they are lining up to be with me, a convicted Death Eater's son," he drawled.
Harry sighed and shrugged a bit, feeling bad for saying it now.
"So my family owns that box in the stadium. Essentially, it goes empty now unless I go. You want to go with me again next time?" Draco asked.
Harry smiled, happy for the change in subject. "Yeah, sure," he said. "Kind of miss it sometimes since I'm not playing anymore."
"You ever thought of playing professionally?" Draco asked, sitting back now that he had finished his meal.
Harry shrugged. "Not really," he said. "A little maybe after the World Cup, but then seeing Victor Krum getting followed around by all those people in school – I think I can do without that. I sort of play every once in a while at Ron's place."
Draco snorted. "I think you will be followed around by fans no matter what you do," he observed. "I don't believe you should let it stop you from doing what you enjoy. Don't let them bully you into some awful job at the Ministry."
Harry shrugged again. "It would be fun," he said. "I don't know about it though. I guess I'm not too sure about anything."
Draco nodded. He was uncomfortably aware that his own options were considerably more limited than Harry's. He took a sip of his drink to cover his pause.
"I actually think Ginny wants to be a Quidditch player," Harry said after taking a pause himself. "I think she'd be more suited for it than me."
"She does seem to enjoy the competition," the blond said with a half smile. "You used to be pretty competitive, too."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Used to be?" he said with a sly smile.
Draco's smile grew. "Well, haven't seen you play in a while," he drawled.
"So what are you saying?" Harry prompted, smirking.
"I guess I ..." Draco paused, trying to find a way to express what he was feeling without telling too much. "I guess I'm saying I liked that part of you."
Harry blushed. He hadn't quite been expecting that answer. He laughed sort of strangely, scratching the back of his neck. "Oh."
Draco enjoyed the flushed look and found himself smiling more. "I don't miss waking up in the infirmary, but I do miss the excitement of trying to beat you."
Harry laughed similarly again. "I would suggest a game," he said, "but I don't have a broom anymore. Me and Ron play sometimes, but mostly we just stick to chess since I have to borrow someone else's broomstick when we do play Quidditch."
Draco's eyebrows rose. "I play chess," he said.
"Do you?" Harry said. "I'm all right at it. We could play sometime."
"Well, it might be fun to see if you can challenge me," Draco replied, voice smug as he waited for Harry's reaction.
Harry smirked again. "Oh, but you see," he said, "I will win."
Draco grinned, delighted. "You will try."
Chapter Title: Intimate Confessions
Words: 3767 Words
A week later a large Eagle Owl appeared and tapped at a window of the Burrow.
Harry was sitting at the kitchen table with Ron and Ginny, eating breakfast.
Ron looked around at the tapping and stood to cross to the window, pulling it open for the bird. "Looks official," he said, reaching for the letter.
"If I get another damn letter from the Ministry about that speech, I'm going to murder the lot of them," Harry said, dropping his fork to his plate with a clatter.
"And I'll help," said Ginny soothingly, kissing Harry lightly on the cheek.
Ron shrugged, handing the letter over to Harry.
The parchment was thick and expensive. Harry's name was written in a fine calligraphy that was not like most Ministry letters. And the back was sealed with a wax crest. Harry raised an eyebrow at it. "It looks official, but not Ministry official," he said. He pulled at the wax, opening the envelope and reaching inside for the letter.
He was surprised when he saw that it was from Malfoy, inviting him to the coming weekend's Falmouth Falcons Quidditch game for which he had an extra ticket. Was this serious? Harry looked up from the letter to see Ginny looking at him strangely, having read over his shoulder.
"Why would Draco Malfoy be inviting you to a Quidditch game?" she asked, sounding genuinely confused. Harry wished she wouldn't have asked with Ron in the room.
"That's from Malfoy?" Ron asked. "He's inviting you to a Quidditch game?"
Harry shrugged. "Looks like it," he replied, handing the letter to him so he could see.
"But why?" he asked when he'd read.
Harry shrugged again. "Because he has an extra ticket, I guess."
"But why would he invite you?" Ron pressed.
"All right," said Harry. "I get that it's a little strange. Maybe he just wants some company."
Ron raised his eyebrows very high on his forehead. "So he contacts Harry Potter out of the blue because he wants company to a Quidditch game?"
"I saw him when I was out last week," Harry said. He hadn't mentioned the meeting to anyone, because he hadn't wanted to deal with the questions, but he could already see Ron's and Ginny's minds working to form them. "We had a butterbeer, talked a little. No big deal."
Ginny laughed a little. "With Malfoy? You went and had a butterbeer with Malfoy? Just – just randomly?"
"I helped him out of a scuffle," Harry said, frowning slightly. "And we agreed to maybe meet up again. I guess he just has another ticket. No big deal," he repeated.
"Why would he want you there?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Harry said, raising his eyebrows now. "I'm not Malfoy. He was all right when I talked to him."
"You mean he didn't act like a complete prat?" Ron asked.
Harry shook his head. "No, he was all right," he said again.
"Malfoy was all right?" Ron asked.
Harry laughed at him. "Just because he's Malfoy doesn't mean he can't be all right."
"Yes, it does," Ron replied, eyebrows shooting up.
Harry shrugged and rolled his eyes.
"Are you going to go?" Ginny asked now.
Harry looked back at the letter, at the date. "Well, nothing's going on then," he said. "Why not? The Falcons are a pretty good team. It's a free Quidditch game. He probably has really good seats, too."
"You mean you're actually going to go?" said Ron, looking at Harry like he thought he was mad.
Harry rolled his eyes again. "Yes, I'm actually going to go," he said. "Have you got a quill lying around anywhere?"
Ron was still looking at him with the same expression of disbelief on his face.
Ginny shook her head at her brother, getting up from the table to fetch quill, ink and parchment for Harry.
"Thank you," Harry said to her, penning his quick response:
Sounds great. Meet you at your place the day of.
Harry
He got up and walked over to the window, attaching his note to the leg of Draco's owl. It took off almost right away and he watched it go with a small smile on his face.
He turned back around to see Ron still gawking at him. "I can't believe you just did that," he said.
Harry shrugged again. "You think I'm mad?" he asked Ginny.
She walked over to him, slipping her arms about his waist. "No," she said. "If he was all right, then he was all right. Plus, it is a free Quidditch match."
He smiled at her and she kissed him.
Ron made a face at them and sat back down at the table to finish eating.
***
The weekend came quickly and Harry was glad for it. He'd had to endure Ron's rants about Malfoy and how his asking Harry to a Quidditch match was probably some sort of trap. Ron wasn't being completely serious, but he couldn't understand why Harry wanted to go.
Harry did want to go, though. It had only been a couple weeks since he'd seen Malfoy and he found he was actually looking forward to it a bit – plus, he did still feel sort of sorry for him. He still wasn't sure if Malfoy deserved it, but he couldn't help feeling that way. He dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and then set off for Malfoy Manor. He arrived around three and stood on the doorstep again, bringing his hand up to knock.
The house-elf Apparated in front of him almost immediately.
Expecting it this time, Harry wasn't surprised. "I'm here to see Draco," he said.
"Master Malfoy be here soon," the elf said and disappeared again. Before Harry had much time to wait, the door opened and Draco stood holding it. "You are on time," he said, smiling and sounding surprised.
Harry smiled back, amused. "Wasn't expecting me to be?" he asked. "Besides, it's Quidditch."
"I don't remember you being very punctual," Draco teased. "Shall we go, or did you want to come in?"
"I'm ready if you are," Harry told him. "Unless you have something to do before we leave."
Draco stepped out and closed the door behind himself. "I'm ready. I can take you on a Side-Along," he said, holding out his arm.
"Oh. Okay," Harry said, taking a tight hold of the offered arm.
Draco felt a shiver of pleasure at Harry's touch but did his best not to let it show on his face. He laid his hand over Harry’s and Apparated them to the stadium.
Harry released Draco's arm once they'd arrived and looked around. It wasn't as big as the stadium had been at the World Cup, but it was very large.
"Out of there," a wizard told them, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. They'd obviously appeared at one of the Apparition points. They moved just in time for another two people to appear right where they'd been standing.
"Only us?" Harry asked, looking at Draco.
"In a crowded stadium?" Draco asked, arching eyebrows.
Harry snorted. "I mean have you invited anyone else?" he said.
"Who else would I invite?" Draco asked. "Just us."
Harry nodded, wondering then how Draco had ended up with an extra ticket. They handed their tickets to a witch and were then allowed into the stadium, where they began climbing stairs. "Have you got a box?" Harry asked.
Draco smiled and nodded. "Yes, we have a box."
"All to ourselves?" Harry asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Yes," Draco said as he climbed the stairs. He glanced at Harry to see his reaction.
"Pretty impressive," Harry said with a smile, though he once again wondered how Draco had ended up with the extra ticket. But what did it matter? It didn't really. It was possible that he was about to spend hours completely alone with Malfoy. Harry thought about that, wondering what they would talk about.
They reached the box and Draco sat down in one of the very comfortable seats. "You like?" he asked, gesturing to the perfect view.
"Wow," Harry said, raising his eyebrows. He walked over to the edge, bending over slightly to see how far up they were. "This is brilliant."
Draco admired the view – of Harry's arse. "Yes, it is," he agreed.
Harry smiled and walked over to sit next to Draco. "How have you been?" he asked.
"Well, I have come up with some new potions, or at least more efficient procedures for them than previously existed," Draco replied, sitting back and crossing an ankle on his knee.
"Really?" Harry asked, nodding. He wondered if that was all Draco did. "That's pretty good for it only being a week since I saw you. Nice of you to invite me, by the way."
"Well, you always did enjoy Quidditch," Draco reasoned.
"Still do." Harry really couldn't help it. His curiosity was too much. "Who was the ticket for? Before me, I mean," he asked
Draco shrugged. "We have season tickets."
"Oh," Harry replied. So Draco had just invited him because he actually had wanted him to go. Harry didn't ask any more questions about it and a voice suddenly boomed over the crowd, announcing the names of players. He watched the figures in dark gray and white robes zoom out onto the pitch. "Falcons play nasty," he said with a grin.
Draco smirked. "You like that, do you?" he asked.
"Definitely interesting to watch," Harry answered. "I read one of the Beaters broke some other bloke's jaw last month."
Draco actually laughed. "Such a violent streak," he teased.
Harry snorted. "Yes, I'm very violent," he said.
Draco enjoyed watching the game with Harry. Really, he enjoyed watching Harry watch the game. He loved his enthusiasm and it made it easier to relax and forget his troubles for a while.
"Oh!" Harry shouted, standing up halfway. "Did you see that!" One of the Chasers had just been nearly knocked from her broom. "That has to be a foul." He was enjoying himself too. Well, how could he not at a game? But it was fun with Malfoy and it felt almost like they were actually friends, especially since watching the game was sparing them an awkward conversation.
Draco found himself getting caught up in the game with Harry, leaning forward and yelling with him.
Harry grinned at Draco. "Bit weird to be rooting for the same team, eh?" he said.
"Yes," Draco said with a laugh. He wondered if Harry knew just how much they had been on the same side when it counted.
"It's nice," Harry agreed, and then blushed, which he found horrifying. Why was that embarrassing?
Draco found himself leaning closer and occasionally touching Harry's arm. It felt amazing. And Harry looked so happy.
When the Snitch was finally spotted, Harry jumped to his feet, watching the dive and shouting for the Falcon's Seeker to go faster.
Draco stood too, watching the game but also standing close to the other man. He watched his flushed and happy face, grinning as he did.
"Yes!" Harry yelled, punching the air as the Seeker in gray raised his hand in obvious triumph. The crowd roared its approval, screaming and clapping.
"Falcons catch the Snitch!" came the booming voice. "310 – 425, Falcons win!"
Harry clapped and whooped along with everyone else, smiling widely. "That was excellent," he said.
Draco clapped too, a wide grin on his face. "Good game," he agreed.
Harry was still smiling as he watched the victorious Seeker make his rounds about the pitch. "So, you going home?" he asked Draco after a moment.
Draco's smile faltered but then he cocked his head. "Want to go for something to eat?" he asked.
Harry shrugged. "Sure," he said with another real smile. "I am actually hungry."
"Good, let's find a place for dinner."
They left the stadium within a few minutes and found a good restaurant a very short time later. A Muggle place, actually, that Harry had picked – they served excellent curry. They were seated, and had ordered their food, and now Harry sat looking at Draco. "Ginny loved those earrings by the way," he said, sipping his soda. "Did I tell you that already?"
Draco kept his smile even at the mention of Harry's girlfriend, but it was an effort. "I'm glad that worked out for you."
"Yeah, me too," Harry said with a waggle of his eyebrows. Ginny had liked the earrings very much. He didn't elaborate, though he sort of wanted to. He hadn't had a good conversation about girls for a long time. It was hard to do while dating your best friend's sister. But, Merlin, he couldn't actually do that with Malfoy, could he? Well, he was as good as any other bloke really.
Draco's eyes widened and he flushed slightly. He wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to hear about this. But on the other hand, it might help Harry talk to him. "That good?" he asked with a slightly forced smile.
"Well, yeah," Harry said, oblivious to Draco's discomfort. "You know how bloody hard it was though, with all those people to hide from? I would've rather done it out in the woods or something."
"How did you manage?" Draco asked, shifting slightly. Thinking about Harry having sex with the girl brought a strange combination of jealousy and arousal.
"Well, I didn't know we were going to do it," Harry answered. "She just sprung it on me when I was walking up the stairs and we went into her room. Ron came and knocked, looking for me right in the middle." He laughed darkly at the memory.
Draco grimaced at the idea of Ron walking in on them. "I gather that wouldn't have gone well," he guessed.
Harry let out another dark laugh. "He would've killed me," he said. "Best mate or not."
"Was that your ... first time?" Draco asked, wanting to kick himself but not being able to help his curiosity.
Harry flushed now. "Er – I, well ... yeah, it ... yeah," he said. "I mean, we did some stuff before that, but that was the first time."
"With anyone?" Draco asked before he could stop himself.
Harry flushed brighter. "Yeah," he said shortly.
Draco smirked. "I suppose that means you enjoyed it."
Harry laughed strangely. "I think I might have even if it hadn't been the first time."
Draco nodded. It had been a while for him. The last two years hadn't been a good time to be in a relationship. Not that anyone would be seen with him now. "Mine was a while ago," he admitted.
"Yeah?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. "In school?"
"Fourth year," Draco said, nodding.
"Fourth year?" Harry's eyes widened. "How did you manage that?"
Draco grinned and his eyebrows rose. "I was rather popular, you know," he drawled.
Harry snorted. "Yeah, I guess," he said. "Who with – if you don't mind me asking," he added quickly.
"The first time with a girl was Pansy," Draco answered.
Harry's eyebrows lowered quite a lot and he frowned. "Pansy – yeah that's what I figured." He was silent for a moment in which he concentrated on drinking his soda again, then he cleared his throat oddly. "You've, um, you've done stuff not involving a girl?" he asked, flushing again and suddenly feeling rather strange.
Draco smiled, arching an eyebrow and nodding. "Yes, I have," he answered.
Harry's eyes widened again. "Oh," he said. "I didn't – I didn't know you were ...."
"Were what?" Draco asked, amused.
Harry looked up quickly before he looked down at his glass again. "Well, into blokes," he said, voice quiet, as if he wanted to save Draco some sort of trouble.
Draco shrugged. "My reputation in school was pretty wild," he said. "Now, my sex life, even if I had one, isn't what most people are concerned about."
Harry looked up again. "I guess," he said, still hung up on the fact that Malfoy fancied blokes and had done stuff with one, or maybe even several. How had he not heard about this in school?
"So you only fancy girls?" Draco asked, wanting to kick himself again but unable to resist asking.
Harry moved around a bit in his seat. "Yeah," he said, flushing so brightly he had to look away yet again and pretend that he suddenly really wanted to eat.
Draco tried to control his disappointment, shrugging as if it didn't matter to him. "I don't like to set limits on myself like that," he replied a bit defensively.
"Well, I don't – I don't have a problem with it or anything," Harry said to Draco's tone. "It's what you like, so, well, it's what you like."
"I like specific people, not necessarily all women or all men," Draco tried to explain, suddenly wanting Harry to understand him. "The things I find attractive happen to occur in both."
"What do you find attractive?" Harry asked, not really sure why he was asking at all. It seemed the polite thing to do.
Draco blushed and looked down. This had gotten into dangerous territory. He tried to compose his thoughts. "Well," he said slowly, "I guess I like intensity for one thing."
"Intensity?" Harry said, raising an eyebrow.
Draco nodded, glancing up at him.
"Oh," Harry said. "I guess that's something in men and women both."
"It's not like the physical isn't important too, though," Draco added. "It's just that it seems to follow the attraction instead of dictate it."
"Yeah, I understand that," Harry said. "I guess I like girls that aren't too ... weepy," he said. "Or really ... too girly, I guess. If that makes sense."
"I noticed," Draco smirked.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Did you?" he asked, slightly amused.
"You seem to like Quidditch players," the blond said.
"Yeah," Harry confirmed. "Cho though – I mean, I guess you know about her – she cried when I kissed her."
Draco winced. "She ... cried?" he asked, perplexed by the admission. "Why the hell would she cry?"
"Yeah – I think it was because of Cedric," Harry said quietly, "but then later, she got jealous of Hermione. We pretty much stopped talking after that."
"You and ... Granger?" Draco asked, curious.
"No," Harry laughed. "I think Cho was jealous because Hermione was just another girl. Me and Hermione – she's like my sister. She's with Ron now. It's always been them."
Draco almost made a quip about thinking it had always been the three of them. He held it back and nodded. "So are you in love with the Weasley girl?" he asked.
Harry frowned thoughtfully. "I love her," he said. "I really, really like her. She's beautiful, and she makes me laugh, and she loves me, so, yeah, I guess so."
Draco schooled his face so as not to show his reaction to that. He nodded. "I guess it's right that you finally get to have a life after everything," he said softly.
Harry smiled a little. "Yeah, it's nice," he admitted. "Not having to worry anymore. It's almost boring." He chuckled quietly.
Draco could relate to that. Two years of fear, isolation and abuse had left him exhausted. Only the isolation didn't seem to be anywhere near over. Most of his old friends were dead or in prison. Few people would associate with him now. "Yes, quiet now," he said.
"Well, maybe you need a girl – or a boy – friend," Harry said, flushing slightly again. "It makes things a little more fun."
Draco cocked his head. "Yes, they are lining up to be with me, a convicted Death Eater's son," he drawled.
Harry sighed and shrugged a bit, feeling bad for saying it now.
"So my family owns that box in the stadium. Essentially, it goes empty now unless I go. You want to go with me again next time?" Draco asked.
Harry smiled, happy for the change in subject. "Yeah, sure," he said. "Kind of miss it sometimes since I'm not playing anymore."
"You ever thought of playing professionally?" Draco asked, sitting back now that he had finished his meal.
Harry shrugged. "Not really," he said. "A little maybe after the World Cup, but then seeing Victor Krum getting followed around by all those people in school – I think I can do without that. I sort of play every once in a while at Ron's place."
Draco snorted. "I think you will be followed around by fans no matter what you do," he observed. "I don't believe you should let it stop you from doing what you enjoy. Don't let them bully you into some awful job at the Ministry."
Harry shrugged again. "It would be fun," he said. "I don't know about it though. I guess I'm not too sure about anything."
Draco nodded. He was uncomfortably aware that his own options were considerably more limited than Harry's. He took a sip of his drink to cover his pause.
"I actually think Ginny wants to be a Quidditch player," Harry said after taking a pause himself. "I think she'd be more suited for it than me."
"She does seem to enjoy the competition," the blond said with a half smile. "You used to be pretty competitive, too."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Used to be?" he said with a sly smile.
Draco's smile grew. "Well, haven't seen you play in a while," he drawled.
"So what are you saying?" Harry prompted, smirking.
"I guess I ..." Draco paused, trying to find a way to express what he was feeling without telling too much. "I guess I'm saying I liked that part of you."
Harry blushed. He hadn't quite been expecting that answer. He laughed sort of strangely, scratching the back of his neck. "Oh."
Draco enjoyed the flushed look and found himself smiling more. "I don't miss waking up in the infirmary, but I do miss the excitement of trying to beat you."
Harry laughed similarly again. "I would suggest a game," he said, "but I don't have a broom anymore. Me and Ron play sometimes, but mostly we just stick to chess since I have to borrow someone else's broomstick when we do play Quidditch."
Draco's eyebrows rose. "I play chess," he said.
"Do you?" Harry said. "I'm all right at it. We could play sometime."
"Well, it might be fun to see if you can challenge me," Draco replied, voice smug as he waited for Harry's reaction.
Harry smirked again. "Oh, but you see," he said, "I will win."
Draco grinned, delighted. "You will try."