Harry and Ginny are no longer sitting in a tree

Chapter Five: The First Date


Harry left the platform after watching his daughter, his life, pull away from the station, on her way to his favorite place in the world, wishing that he could go with her, but he knew that he had to let her go so that she could grow into the great person he knew she would become.

He apparated home and went into the kitchen to fix himself lunch, but he just sat down at the table with a pot of tea. He was still sitting there holding a now cold cup of tea, staring into space, four hours later when his house was invaded. Well, it just felt that way when Fred and George arrived. They dragged him upstairs, and stuffed him into some clothes and styled his hair. They were a whirlwind that left him bemused. He also realized that Hermione hadn’t talked to them about the truth of his divorce by what Fred said.

“Well, I’m glad that you’re finally going out, and with a man. We were starting to wondering if you were sexless, and not gay,” Fred said as he was style Harry’s messy hair with his wand.

Harry laughed to himself. He rather thought sexless was an apt description of him. He was glad Hermione hadn’t said anything. He rather liked that his family thought he had wanted the divorce because he was gay, instead of them being parties to his being cuckolded. After a while George left, leaving Harry alone with Fred.

Soon, too soon, there was a knock at the front door, and when he went to open it, he saw George standing there with a slightly older looking Draco Malfoy, who he was glad to see was looking slightly uneasy as well. Surprisingly this snapped him out of his bemused state, and he said, “Hello, Draco,” before turning to the twins, and asking, “So what’s been planned for this date, that our children and you have cooked up?”

Draco gave a choked laugh that he tried to smother, as he looked at Potter. Damn, he was hot. He had never thought that he would be in this situation. He could still remember the crush he had had on the Boy-Who-Lived growing up, and could feel his attraction increasing for the man that stood before him. He had been surprised when the twins had told him that he was being set up on a date, by his son no less, and even more surprised this morning when George had told him who it was with. He said quietly, drawling almost, “Well, I actually told the twins I could make my own plans for a date. Even if it has been a while since I’ve been on a date, I know how to treat the person I’m with,” Then to reassure Harry of his sincerity, he added, “And don’t worry, I know some discreet places that won’t proclaim to the world that we went out together.”

“Well, we’ll leave you in the capable hands of our new partner,” Fred said as he and George flooed away, back to their shop.

Draco relaxed as soon as the last trace of red hair was gone, and said, “Boy, I’m glad they’re gone. Uhmm, I might have overstated my confidence.”

“Why’s that?” Harry asked, seeing the change in Draco as soon as the twins were gone.

“Well, for one thing, I haven’t been on a date in two years, and that was with a friend. I haven’t been out with a man since I was in Hogwarts. I hope you’re not expecting much. I’ve spent most of the last twelve years since my divorce working, rebuilding the Malfoy name. I haven’t really let myself do much else.”

“That’s good to know. Uhm, just so you know, uhmm, I don’t have ANY experience dating a man, and I have very little experience even dating. I didn’t even realize people thought I was gay until yesterday when my DAUGHTER said she had set up a date for me with a man, because I’m gay!” Harry shook his head wryly, “Well, it can’t be worse than my marriage was.” He saw the weird look in Draco’s face, almost like disappointment, “Hey, I’m giving it a chance,” he added quickly, trying to make it better, “If you must know, I haven’t had sex since before Lily was born. Not that that’s such a big deal, I’m not very good at it. I don’t think anyone would want to be with me.” Harry wished he could just shut up. He was saying too much. He tended to just keep going with embarrassing talk until somebody stopped him.

With every word that came out of Harry’s mouth, the happy feeling Draco had been feeling since he had found out that his date was with Harry Potter, was being replaced with a disappointment that he couldn’t quite keep from showing on his face. “Well, we don’t have to do anything. You know what, I’ll just go home and let’s just forget this whole thing ever happened,” Draco said walking towards the door, but before he took two steps Harry stopped him.

“Stop. Don’t go. I don’t think I can be alone right now,” Harry said quietly, “This is the first time that I’ve been separated from Lily since Ginny left. Also, I haven’t spent nearly any time with adults that weren’t Weasley’s in forever.” Harry wasn’t sure why he didn’t want Draco to leave, but he could feel that if he let Draco leave, he would lose something important, something he didn’t even know he wanted. “I could really use a friend right now. Also, I never said I wouldn’t give dating another man a shot, just that I had never thought of being with another man.” Harry really wished he had a better filter between his brain and his mouth.

Draco finally turned back to Harry, “Are you sure? I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable or anything.” Draco could feel that feeling coming back.

“No, I’m fine. I just wish I hadn’t blurted that all out. Why don’t I make us dinner, and we can rent a movie to watch. Then we’ll take it from there.”

They ended up renting a couple of Disney cartoons because Harry hadn’t wanted to chance to watch much more adult-themed movies, and so didn’t really want to chance picking something horrible on his first ‘date’ with Draco. Especially since he kept expecting Draco to just walk out after deciding Harry’s baggage wasn’t worth dealing with. Their next stop was the grocery store. Harry decided to make Tortellini with a homemade cheese sauce. He walked along the aisles letting Draco push the cart while he grabbed the ingredients that he would need. All the while the two men made small talk. Once it came time to pay Draco insisted on paying for the groceries as well as having paid for the movies.

Once they got back to Harry’s house, he plugged in the movie, and turned the TV so that he would be able to see it from the kitchen while he was cooking. But instead of sitting down on the couch as he expected him to, Draco came into the kitchen and sat down at the table when Harry insisted that he would handle everything.

“So, Harry,” Draco started, slightly unsure of himself, his upbringing the only thing keeping it from showing, “Which house do you believe your daughter will be in? Gryffindor? Ravenclaw? Slytherin? Hufflepuff?” Draco teased, when Harry hadn’t commented.

“Oh, I don’t like to speculate,” Harry said, though he truly believed his daughter would be Gryffindor, and all because of her own personality. He had tried to prepare her for the different houses, telling her all the good qualities of each house.

“Oh, come on. You have to have an idea. You’ve been around her her whole life, haven’t you?” Draco said, knowing from the look in Harry’s eye that he did have an idea.

“Okay, I’ll tell you,” Harry paused to taste the cheese sauce before adding the tortellini that had just finished cooking. The sauce had come out even better than the last time he had made it. It was a mixture of Gorgonzola, cream cheese, butter, and heavy whipping cream. He quickly served them both plates and brought them over to the table and set one in front of Draco and then placed one in front of the seat next to Draco’s, so that they were both facing the TV in the living room.

“Wow, this is really good, Harry!” Draco exclaimed, after he had taken a bite, before digging in for more.

Neither spoke as they finished eating. “Thanks for dinner, Harry. I have to say this is the best tortellini I’ve ever had. Now, which house do you think your Lily will be in?”

“Fine, if you’re going to be that persistent about it,” Harry answered, “Actually, I think Gryffindor, even though she has strong Slytherin traits, and it’s a close thing.” Harry continued with his speculations, “And Fred and George’s daughters Bell and Susan are Gryffindors just like their fathers. A couple of pranksters as well. Now, I only met your son yesterday, and I hate to say it, but I don’t think he’ll be a Slytherin. What do you think?”

Draco thought a little more, he hadn’t had much time with his son and felt bad about that, even though he couldn’t have known. “I’m not sure, actually. Nevertheless, I think he might end up in Ravenclaw. He’s very studious. I just hope he’ll be able to make some good friends.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. Lily seems to really like him, and will probably drag him into things with her, even if they are in different houses,” Harry said reassuringly.

The two of them chatted comfortably late into the night, mostly about their children. Before they knew it, it was midnight, and Draco flooed home after wishing Harry, “Goodnight.” They made plans to meet the next night for dinner again. Harry went to bed humming to himself, happy that nothing had gone wrong. He hadn’t ruined the food. He hadn’t burned the house down. He hadn’t nearly killed Draco. And Draco actually wanted to see him again. He decided to go along for the ride for as long as this ‘relationship’ thing lasted.


On the Hogwart’s Express:

Lily watched sadly waving at her dad through the open window as the train pulled away from the station. She was already missing him, and she could still see him. She had tried not to show her dad how much she didn’t want to leave him. Not that she wouldn’t miss him herself, but she worried that he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. She continued to stare out the window back along the tracks long after the station disappeared from view.

She was startled by a hand on her shoulder. She quickly glanced around and saw that her compartment held not only her cousins Bell and Susan, but also her cousin Rose Weasley, her Uncle Ron’s youngest child1, Arden Malfoy, and two children that looked familiar but she couldn’t place. They both appeared to be First Years as well.

Arden was the one with his hand on her shoulder, with a concerned look on his face. When she had turned back to him, he asked, “Lily, are you alright?”

She realized, to her surprise, that there were tears running down her face. “Yeah, I’m okay. This is going to be the longest I’ve ever been away from Daddy. I’m worried about him.” And in a smaller voice, “And, I’m going to miss him.”

“Uncle Harry will be fine,” Bell assured her, to which her other two cousins nodded.

“I’m a little worried about Hogwarts’ House system,” her cousin Rose stated, “There’s nothing in ‘Hogwarts’, a History’ that says how we’re placed, and my sisters just seemed to be having fun with me. And none of the adults will say anything. It’s like it’s some kind of conspiracy. My Dad was in Gryffindor like the rest of the Weasley’s, and so was my mom. Hugo and ==== are both in Gryffindor. But I don’t know what House I’ll be in. I certainly don’t feel very brave.”

“Yeah, I was a little worried about which house I would be put in,” piped in the boy that Lily couldn’t place, “I’m a second year, by the way. I’m Max Longbottom, and this is my younger sister Amelia. She’s a first year, too. Oh, I’m in Ravenclaw, by the way.”


Charles and Melodie stayed for a while until the trolley came by and they went to rejoin their friends. Arden insisted on getting them all some of everything and they had a small feast, and before long they had all become the best of friends, deciding that it wouldn’t matter what House they ended up in, they would remain friends.

The train finally arrived at the station and all the students disembarked. The older years all went down a path towards waiting carriages that didn’t seem to be pulled by anything, while the First Years were all gathered around a giant of man, made to look more so by the fact that he was surrounded by very small First Years. Lily recognized him instantly and yelled a greeting to him, “Hey Hagrid. How are you?”

“Ah, why if it isn’t my little Lilypad come to Hogwarts’. How was the train ride up here?” He paused to quickly do a head count, and said, “Ok, now we’ll be taking the boats to the castle, so get in. Four to a boat.” He himself got into a boat by himself that appeared to be the largest of them all. What followed was an exciting time for them as they crossed the lake, and they were all duly impressed by their first view of Hogwart’s Castle.


Hogwart’s

The house elves collected the students’ trunks and transported the older Years’ trunks into their rooms. Parents would sometimes include going-back-to-school gifts that the house-elves would place in prominent positions on the students’ beds.

Dobby the house-elf stayed with the First Year’s trunks, knowing that Lily Potter’s trunk was there, filled with hidden gifts her father had included for her and her friends and cousins. Harry Potter had let him know, and had Dobby promise to pass out the gifts for him. He waited for the magic of Hogwart’s to tell him which house each First Year was placed in, and then he would send their trunks to that dorm. Even once he knew Lily Potter’s house he didn’t send it on, so that he could carry out his assigned task.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the chapter.