Draco POV
I allowed Scorpius to choose five candies and a new toy from the store before looking for George. There had been a moment of understanding between us and for the first time I had realized he was, like me, and might have known all along judging by the way he stared. He never had a girlfriend, though everyone loved him and now it all made sense. I know he saw me watching him as we walked around. I saw him watching me as well. I would speak with him later when Scorpius wasn't there to listen and ask seemingly innocent questions. I paid for his treats and nodded at George as he restocked shelves before leaving outside. The wind had picked up and my fingers were turning red by the time I got Scorpius' mittens and hat on strait then when I reached into my pockets I found a piece of parchment nestled on top of the pockets contents.
It was enchanting to meet you, again.
~George
I felt my face flush and couldn't help but turn around to see if he was watching. He was in the shop window across the street. I blushed. Was it that obvious to him? I thought I had hidden so deep even I would have a hard time digging real emotions out yet he must have seen it from the beginning. Thinking back on his pranks and the way he and Fred looked at me it made more sense now, George had always been interested and Fred had been supportive of his choice. He stood there, gangly-like, smirking as George watched me and smiling too. Now that the war was over and everything had settled down he seemed more interested in pursing a relationship. I could only imagine what my father would say. What would his family say? Harry had married Ginny and Hermione had married Ron and last I spoke with them I had thanked Harry for saving my life in the Room of Requirement when I ran into him at the Ministry of Magic. That had been nearly four years ago, just months before Scorpius came along. What if nothing became of this anyway, I would never have to face them. I wondered if they knew about George. It didn't matter for the moment.
I smelled the paper, it smelled warm, spiced, and floral with a hint of berry. A watermark on the paper had the name of the store and below it Fred and George had signed their names. It smelled like him. I looked up to find him, still watching, as I folded the scented paper and returned it to my pocket, withdrawing my leather gloves and grabbing Scorpius' hand to guide him to the ice cream shop. Who got ice cream when it was freezing anyway? I did, I guess.
Scorpius was sticky and his pants pockets no longer had candy in them when we reachedFlorean Fortescue's. He ate his ice cream as I talked to some old family friends I ran in to upon arriving. It was so nice to speak with people who understood my dilemma and my past history and before I knew it my breath was floating into the stars in front of me and Scorpius had fallen asleep, curled up against my body, under my zipped jacket. All the stores had closed and the only lights, other than the spider web of lights over the ice cream shop patio were the lights of a flat above the joke shop. George must have lived there alone now. I was tempted to make an excuse to see him again tonight, perhaps I could knock and say I lost my pocket watch and quickly scan the store for it. In the end I grabbed some powder and shifted Scorpius to my hip as I spoke the words.
"216 Gargoyle Avenue, Salisbury. Wiltshire, England."
As I walked up the path towards our cottage I realized Scorpius was missing his coat and his new toy. I had gathered up everything before I took us home so I had actually left something at the joke shop. Tomorrow it was supposed to snow and jackets would be warn by all. I would have to return to the store or else buy a new coat for my son.
George POV
After closing the store I always read by the window and tonight I looked down towards the blonde man and child sitting at the ice cream shop while I did so. After they left I found a little coat that looked worth more than half the things in my store and a little nargle in a ball, the same kind of toy Malfoy had bought. I could have gone to return it, I could see him sitting there, but I wanted him to come back into the store for it. I wanted to see him again and I wanted it to be somewhere I could lead him into a private area and talk.
I looked up after a page, realizing Scorpius had no coat and rushed out the backdoor to return their things but I round the corner and saw the lights were off and a shadow backlit in green vanished. Floo Powder. He would be home by now and who knew where that was. I wished I had run out there sooner. His poor boy looked cold and I would have like to see him again, just to make sure he knew I knew and I was interested. My dreams were sweet and came instantly as soon as I lay down. This is how I, George, had picture falling in love. Not mushy and gushy like it was watching Fred date people but realistic and subtle. This would be chaotic if anything happened between us. I could only imagine the conversations it would start. With that thought I fell asleep and dreamed of scenarios, the best being Christmas dinner when I'd walk into the Burrow with Malfoy in hand and announce him to Mum, Dad, Charley and Fleur, Bill, Ron and Hermione, then Harry and Ginny. I could see it now...
There was a firm knock on the door an hour and a half before the store opened and I found Draco wearing a grey coat trimmed with black fur waiting on the other side. He looked extremely awkward and cold but as soon as I opened the door he strolled in and took off his jacket. He wore a black skin-tight muscle shirt underneath; it looked great but I couldn't imagine it was warm. He looked at me as if trying to gauge my response to his early arrival.
"Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Oh, yes. Thank you."
I led him through the backroom and up the stairs to my two bedroom flat. Once in the kitchen I turned towards the coffee maker to avoid letting him see my awkward blush. My house wasn't much compared to Malfoy Manor, not compared to the way Harry, Ron, and Hermione had described it to me. He had peacocks roaming the front yard.
"How do you like your coffee Malfoy?"
"Black. Like my soul."
He leaned on the counter directly to my left, looking sideways at me with a crooked smile. I had never been in a relationship before but I couldn't play this bantering game for long. I was a direct man when it came to this sort of stuff.
"The thought of you makes me smile."
"The thought of you makes me nervous."
He did look paler than usual and his voice trembled the slightest bit as he spoke to me. He used words as much as facial expressions and the worry could be easily read in those grey eyes. He was terrified of himself. Did he think he could act forever or at least until his feelings went away? He had walked over to the bay windows over looking Diagon Alley below.
"I have never imagined I would act on these feelings. I planned on marrying a nice pure blood, popping out a few children, living quietly, and dying, knowing no one lost respect for me because I never wanted this life for me."
"I've thought of you romantically since you walked between the tables in the Great Hall to be sorted. I knew you were a Malfoy and I knew my father and yours hated each other. I knew all I would ever do is dream. This is surreal. This is actually happening."
Draco, as I knew him five years ago, hid behind people and manipulated them to get what he wanted. He seemed to be a different man now. Broken. I wanted to know how different. When I walked behind him he backed up and then intentionally brushed his shoulder against mine as he took his empty mug to the sink and magicked it clean. He poured another cup and came to stand by me.
"Would you like to get some croissants and jam with me for breakfast? I dropped Scorpius off at my father's manor today and told him I had a date. It would by lying if I didn't actually go out with someone before picking him back up."
"Certainly. I would hate to know you lied to your sweet old man."
"We'll see how sweet he is when I tell him I was out with you. I do plan on telling him if he asks. It makes it easier in the long run to tell him as soon as I do something he considers inappropriate ."
"Malfoy, you are one cocky, daring man."
"He only has one child and if he disowns me he looses everything. I've got nothing to loose, beside Will money, Malfoy Manor, free meals, lodging, honor, and his blessing."
I laughed and he smirked back at me, finally starting to relax. We left the store and walked down the street to the bakery, which smelled of warm bread. This boy had become a man. He used to have a terrible temper and got insulted at the slightest jest. He hadn't been angered at all yet and I hadn't heard or seen the slightest reaction to anything. His dark side might come out, with coercion. Could he have changed that much? He paid for our food, picked a table, and since I was still standing he asked me to grab strawberry marmalade before pouring himself a glass of orange juice. I went to the counter, opened a few packs of jam, and placed its contents in my hand.
"Here, I got a few for you!"
"Thanks."
I reached out my hand and he flattened his. I squished my hand into his and he made a disgusted noise and realizing what I had done. Then, unexpectedly he broke out into a solid wave of laughter and smeared the jam in his hand across my face, letting bits if it fall onto the shining tile below our table. I laughed and smacked some jelly onto his face as he tried to duck, which resulted in marmalade in his now messed up hair. We must have looked like an odd pair to the baker who obviously knew both of us and was now utterly confused as to our appearance and playful banter.
"Look what you've done. I will have to cut this date short and go home to clean up. We've gotten more breakfast in our hands and hair than we have our stomachs!"
"I have two showers back at my place and some clothes that should fit you nicely, if you don't want to go all the way home. If you do go home I am holding this toy and coat hostage so you will be forced to come back afterwards."
He took me up on the offer and we ate our croissants like gentleman (Gentlemen coated in jam that is!) before heading back to my place.
