Draco POV
Back at the house George showed me his clothing and let me choose an outfit to wear after my shower. He actually had quite impeccable taste and I easily found something I liked. I showered fast and put on some black athletic pants. I had left the shirt out on the couch and when I went to grab it I found him shirtless looking out the window. Maybe I didn't need the shirt after all. We were the only ones here and it was warm inside.
"What do you think, do I need a shirt or should I go without?"
"The only shirt that I can fit these broader shoulders into is dirty so I am going without. You look great without a shirt, if that is what you were asking."
"Without it is."
I sat down on his couch and he sat next to me, a bit too close for comfort. Before this moment we had seemed like two friends hanging out and now it was intimate and quiet. He reached out his hand as if waiting to see if I would accept his offer. I thought for a second then knew that this relationship would be new, terrifying, and exactly what I needed.
"It's 11:11. Make a wish!"
He closed his eyes, squinted, then reopened them smirking, asking what I wished.
"I wished you would ask me to be your boyfriend. What did you wish."
"That you would say yes."
I leaned in closer and he pulled me over to lean on his shoulder. There was a knock at the door and the voice of his assistant came through it.
"O, sorry Gina, I meant to call you earlier. I'm feeling rather off today. Could you run the store to the best of your abilities? I will be up here if you need me."
She thanked him for trusting her and ran back downstairs. Slowly I heard the store turn on and began to breath and creak below. George was lucky to have his own business. It was something I had absolutely no skill in. My family sold things to businesses and owned properties and stocks to create income. This was professional. I got a message from my father asking when I would be back and telling me Scorpius was hard to force naps on. I awkwardly tried to text him back, these Muggle phones drove me crazy. I couldn't figure them out, apparently neither could most Muggles. George also got a text from Ron asking if he was busy today but he ignored it and laughed as I tried to figure out a time to leave.
We talked for hours and I began to doze off. I had planned on coming to pick up Scorpius' coat then returning home for breakfast and a nap before lying to my father about some pretty pure blood girl I met and asked out last week. Now I was falling asleep, leaning on a Weasley, and totally at peace. I was going to reposition myself on the couch but when I looked up I realized George was already sleeping so I settled in and drifted off.
"Hey George, Gina said you weren't feeling well so we'll be quick."
I heard the voice but assumed it was another employee. This was quickly shot from my brain as I remembered George saying no employee had been in his house and at the shout of "BLOODY HELL!" from the arch leading to our couch from the kitchen. George jumped up so quickly I was forced up but couldn't catch myself in time and brushed the floor before George caught my bicep, pulling me into a stand position behind him, and all secrecy was lost. In the doorway stood Ron who clutched Hermione and Harry who held Ginny's hand. The only one who was smiling besides George was Ginny, who was in a fit of laughter at the expressions on the other's faces.
"I should go..."
"No, stay here. They will be leaving soon."
Ron looked at George with a look that screamed, "Explain yourself." and George readjusted himself on the couch and pulled me down into his lap before conjuring up another long sofa for his family to sit on. They all watched us as they sat down, all except Ginny who excused herself to the loo. Everyone sat in silence, watching each other, until Ginny returned at which point George cleared his throat and spoke.
"I have an announcement and it may come as a shock."
Ginny smiled and got up for a cup of old brewed coffee. George tried to wait for her but she told him she already knew what was coming. She had over-heard him and Fred talking years ago and had already accepted this fact.
"I'm gay. Last night I ran in to Malfoy, who I have liked since I first saw him, rich-boy, asshole aside, and we talked and he left some things here and returned this morning for them. We went on a date and spent the morning together. He is my romantic interest now and I expect old feelings to be forgotten gents. Surely five years is enough time to forgive."
"George, I don't hate him anymore. I saved his life during the battle at Hogwarts. He almost caught fire and burned to death. I did almost kill him the year before in the girls bathroom, but let's forget about that one. It's Ron who needs convincing."
"I'll adjust, just don't expect me to be friendly with you, Malfoy. You took every chance to irritate, pester, harass, and injure us during school."
Ginny returned with her coffee and sat cross legged on the floor in front of Harry.
"Ginny, you have nothing to say? I thought you would be the most angry."
"Like I already said, I overheard you and Fred talking at The Burrow about Draco and how you felt. I thought you were lying or being silly but after a few more minutes I believed it and have come to accept that this might have eventually happened. Though I thought the chances were slim, seeing as Mal...Draco plays a very convincing strait man. What did you eat for breakfast? Is there any left? I'm starving."
I couldn't believe it had gone over that easily. Harry seemed utterly shocked but tried his best to appear cordial and calm. Ron was the color of a beet and Hermione still looked like someone was about to say they were kidding. Ginny sipped her coffee and smiled at the tension bound by silence. I was certain their visits were usually a bit louder. Ginny, being as gracious as she was fiery, spoke directly to me and tried to start conversation.
"Draco, is your son here? I've only heard stories of him but I would love to meet him. I can almost picture him from what other's have said but it would be lovely to meet him in person."
"No, I've left him at Malfoy Manor today. I told my father I was going on a date and he offered to take a grandparent day. Do you have kids?"
"Harry and I have one and one on the way, about four more months. Are you planning on more kids soon?"
"I have no wife or girlfriend and as you know, George is not female so I can't imagine the chances are very high. That's fine by me though. Scorpius is a handful for one guy and wouldn't know what to do with two kids. If I want another later I can always adopt."
She nodded but had nothing else to keep conversation going. It got quiet again before George stood and asked me to follow him. He led us to his room and asked if he would mind meeting his parents, like meeting them as his potential and in a more casual manner than chance meetings in public where certain things were expected of their different families. Apparently he went over to his parents house every Saturday night and hadn't planned on Ron showing up early.
"Am I going to be hexed, cursed, yelled at, or sent away? If not I will go. I just can't believe this will go over as well with them as it did with the others."
"If anyone has the right to hate you and your family it's me. Your family's... association...got Freddy killed. I don't hate you, quite contrary. Please come enjoy dinner with us. I'll let my mother know I'm bringing a guest and everyone will dress their best, thinking I have a girlfriend coming then you will show up and they will gawk and stare and re-adjust to the situation and they will laugh when I tell them why I brought you and freeze when they realize it isn't a joke. Please come? If you are bold enough to tell your father I should tell mine but I can't do it alone."
George POV
I could see Draco trying to respond. His face was unreadable, though certainly not a peace. He was more nervous than I thought he would be. I thought that Ron and Harry knowing would worry him more but apparently it was my father that concerned him. It took a few more moments but he finally did respond.
"I'll go, if you promise me nothing terrible will happen. Do you think it will change your relationship with them? Will they still want you to come over and do holidays with them? My father is more likely to disown me than he is to accept it."
I squeezed his hand and we returned to the living room where the others sat. They obviously had plans and wanted me to join them before going home. Draco was sweating bullets and swaying nervously beside me so I grabbed his hand to reassure him. This would be ok. It would work itself out. I knew my family and I knew they would take it as a shock but accept it a few minutes later. Everything would be fine.
"Would you guys like to come Christmas shopping with us before we head to mum's? We knew you'd be working and looking for a excuse not to be at the shop so we thought we'd offer. Although, it looks as if you've already found a reason to avoid work..."
I looked at Draco and he nodded his approval so I agreed and went to find some more suitable pants for Draco and myself. Sweat pants in public wouldn't cut it for me and I knew he wouldn't appear in them either. Luckily he was the same hip size and I was able to find us some tight, clean, pants in matching dark blue shades. They were my favorite style so I had bought two of them so I would always have a clean pair. Draco went to the bathroom and put them on as well as a black button up shirt he found and liked in my closet.
"Sorry, didn't realize you were in here changing."
I was bent over putting on my pants when he finished in the bathroom.
"No, come out. It's fine. I don't mind."
He sat on the foot of the bed and watched me try to find a shirt. I looked in the closet but most of the clothing in there used to be Fred's and I refused to wear them. I looked in the dresser and found a shirt but it was too small. It was then a soft black material fell over my face and I heard Draco tell me to try it on. It was the tight shirt he wore over this morning, freshly cleaned and still warm from drying. It fit well and Draco smiled as he admired the way I looked in it. As we came out of the room Ginny giggled and starting chanting.
"George and Draco sitting in a tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G..."
"Actually we haven't kissed yet, and we've only held hands twice; once on our way to breakfast and once just now when you showed up. Shove it Ginny. Ready Malfoy?"
"You haven't called me by name yet. Malfoy is a last name."
"Ready Draco?"
Bloody Hell! I loved saying his name. Draco. Draco. Draco. Draco. He saw my face blush and laughed.
"You look good in my shirt. Let's go. I'm getting more anxious as we sit here."
Christmas was in five days and I had yet to buy presents. Every year I gave a joke shop gift away plus one other gift to each person. I had already decided on jokes to pass out and had shopped for everyone except my parents and I should needed to get something for Draco as well. We walked through London and ended up running into Luna and Neville who couldn't stop puzzling at Draco's appearance and I could tell it was making his jumpy. Again I grabbed his hand and felt his eyes meet mine. I didn't need to announce my crush when I showed it. After the initial shock Neville asked Draco how he had been and what he had been up to lately. Luna seemed to miss the cue until we walked into a different store and she notice our fingers laced in each others. She never was observant or tactful.
"Oh, are you two dating? I never knew either of you liked each other."
"Not officially, yet, we are seeing how things go this next week."
Draco squeezed my hand and smiled into the window modeling a faux dragon pelt pencil skirt. I could tell he wasn't seriously admiring it but couldn't stand to look at me or Luna at that moment. I didn't blame him. He had recently come to the realization that this might happen. I'm sure he hadn't imagined shopping for Christmas with his school days antagonist and family. It was a shock to me too but I couldn't help thinking how different it would be if our places were switched. I would not be able to do it. Shopping with the Malfoy's? No thanks. When we were done shopping and the only gift I had left was Draco's, which I'd have to get when he wasn't around. I knew what to get him though. I decided on something for Scorpius as well, perhaps he would like a tamed pigmy dragon? I happened to have one in stock. Of course I did. No one was buying them right now and he was the only one who had shown interest in weeks. Now it was time for the fun!
After a few attempts I was able to put the right number into my phone and call mum. She didn't answer, she never did, so I created a Patronus and sent word that I would be bringing a guest to dinner. I knew she would shriek and get giddy as soon as she got it, tidying up the house, cleaning everything, and harassing everyone to look their best. I made the others promise not to tell her who it was. Not that I think they would tell her, none of them expected this one either.
