"Malfoy." Harry cleared his throat uncomfortably as Draco looked up. His eyes were bloodshot and there were purple circles underneath from sleep deprivation. In front of him was a stack of papers, books spread open, and a half empty bottle of brandy.
"Potter. How did you get in here?" Draco asked surprised as he looked around. It seemed to Harry that Draco probably hadn't looked up from his work in hours.
"Your elf, Misty, let me in?" Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Right." Draco rubbed his forehead and filled his glass again. "Would you like a drink?" Draco offered tilting the bottle toward him.
"Ah, no thanks." Draco gave him a curt nod and sipped from his glass. He leaned back in his chair and waited for Harry to speak.
"I, um, well I wanted to see how you were doing." Harry said in a rush, his face flushing, and then, "Actually, yeah, can I have that drink. This is usually Ginny's thing and not mine." Draco filled the drink and handed it back still not speaking.
"Did she tell you to come?" Draco was exhausted. He wanted to get to the point.
"Ginny? No." Harry looked at his glass before taking a tentative sip.
"Hermione." Draco corrected flatly.
"Ah. Um, no. I, I just thought you might want to, talk? Maybe? We haven't really spoken much lately and I wanted to see how you were, I don't know, doing." It was clear to Draco how uncomfortable Harry was. He shifted in his seat and looked around nervously.
"I'm fine." Draco said cooley, narrowing his eyes. Why were all of Hermione's friends so bloody nosey? Blaise only listened to him when Draco asked, he didn't drop by unannounced to talk about feelings. Gryffindors.
"Okay." Harry replied. Harry had never been good at talking about feelings and difficult personal interactions. It wasn't really his strong suit but he figured Draco might want to talk to someone after what had happened with Hermione. If he didn't, that suited him fine too. They sat in silence for a few minutes, just sipping their brandy.
"How's Ginny?" Draco asked suddenly.
"She's great!" Harry replied a bit too brightly, eager for the conversation to resume.
"I imagine all the Weasley's must be in high spirits now that Ron is back?" Draco stared at his fireplace not looking at Harry.
"Yeah, they are." Draco nodded but didn't continue. "Draco, I'm sorry." Harry set his glass down on the desk and looked at Draco intently.
"For what?" Draco laughed humorlessly into his glass.
"For everything. I'm sorry that this happened. I'm sorry I got Hermione that drunk last night and she said all that stuff to you." Draco's jaw clenched at his words.
"Granger knows her limits. It's her choice to ignore them." Draco replied gruffly into his glass. He still wasn't looking back at Harry.
"She-" Harry started.
"She blamed me for not saving her." Draco's words were barely a whisper, hurt peeking out from behind the cold facade of his face.
"I know." Harry bowed his head.
"She blamed me for my cruel Aunt Bella's torture. Doesn't she know by now that I hate myself for those years?" Draco turned to Harry and finally looked him in the eye. "Am I still that same person to all of you?" He asked Harry seriously.
"No Malfoy, you're not. I chose to forgive and forget years ago. I can't know what it was to live your life at that time. We were teenagers then and honestly Draco, when I think of this place, I remember that you saved me. You could have sold me out; you could have told Bellatrix who I was, but you didn't. I know it's a bit corny but I kind of see that as your first step in making things right." Draco agreed with him, what he was saying was a bit hokey but he appreciated it nonetheless. He nodded his head in gratitude and turned back toward the fireplace.
"You know Hermione didn't mean it, right?"
"I don't know that, Harry." He sipped the brandy slowly, enjoying the burn in his throat. "I've alway been in competition with a ghost and now he's alive. I feel her pushing me away every day." It was more than Draco had meant to admit but his head was swimming with brandy and exhaustion. Harry remained quiet as he waited for Draco to continue. "Maybe it's best to just postpone the wedding or just call it quits altogether." Draco tilted his glass back to swallow its contents whole in an attempt to keep the tears he felt welling in his chest from rising.
"Don't give Hermione a reason not to fight for you." Harry looked deadly serious. "If you push her away, you make her decision for her. You know she already had about a million pros and cons lists in her head and the easy choice isn't you, Malfoy." Draco's eyes flashed dangerously at Harry's words. "But it is the right choice." Draco was looked at him in shock. Had Harry Potter just said that he was a better choice for Hermione than Ron?
"What?" Was all Draco could manage to get out. Had he heard that right?
"I mean it, Draco. Ron and Hermione aren't really that compatible. They fight endlessly, they have completely different views on life and work ethic, and quite honestly, I've never seen Hermione happier than when she was with you. Sure, Ron and Hermione they had their moment, and it was great but Draco, cut yourself some slack. Hermione isn't some idiot who falls in love with the first handsome prat that comes along. It takes a very specific type of handsome prat to do that." Harry smirked.
"Harry Potter, did you just call me handsome?" Draco fluttered his lashes flirtatiously. "Maybe I chose to chase the wrong golden trio member…" Harry laughed.
"You wish." Draco shrugged and Harry continued, "All I'm saying is, maybe next time Hermione comes around to apologize, don't just shut the door in her face?" Harry quirked an eyebrow. Draco looked at him not saying anything for a moment.
"Fine." He rolled his eyes trying to mask his amusement.
"Fine." Harry clinked his glass with Draco's and finished his glass. "Whelp, I'm out of here. Are you going to be okay?"
"Yes, my darling." Draco replied lovingly.
"Is this going to be a thing now?" Harry moaned.
"Absolutely."
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"Nice work today." Brigid bounced up to Ron as he finished sweeping the floors. Her hair was thrown up in a messy bun and she had a bit of dust on her chin.
"Er, thanks." Ron's ears went red. Brigid made him nervous. He had worked with her a handful of times and she was unfailingly positive. It was nice to have that energy around but in addition to being strange and funny, she was actually quite pretty. He hadn't really noticed the first time he met her but now, it was impossible not to see it. Her blonde hair was a bright yellow-blonde and her wide eyes the color of emeralds. He sometimes caught himself watching her prance around, jumping down a flight of stairs, and cracking jokes with the customers. It was interesting for Ron to see her remain so upbeat knowing her family was slain in front of her. How does she do it? He thought.
"Sooo…" Brigid seemed a bit nervous suddenly. "Do you, maybe, want to go to the Hogs Head to grab a drink?"
"The Hogs Head?" Ron looked taken aback. "Why there?"
"I like Aberforth." She shrugged.
"Really? Even with all the weird goat stuff?" Ron asked.
"You don't have to go." She looked a bit less confident at this point.
"Uh, no." Ron stammered, realizing it must sound like he wasn't interested. "I want to. Let me, uh, let me grab my stuff." He shuffled to the back where George was sitting on a workbench reading. "Um, I'm going to leave if that's okay?" Ron hesitated and finished, "I'm going to have a drink with Brigid at the Hogs Head." George raised his eyebrow at Ron and grinned smugly.
"Well, well Ronald…" Ron sighed exasperatedly and ignored the question.
"Am I okay to leave or not?" Ron pressed.
"But, of course. You're free to do who- excuse me, WHATever you want." Ron rolled his eyes.
"Very professional. That's your employee." He replied condescendingly, grabbing his jacket and bag from the other side of the bench and strode out. His heart thumped as he saw her waiting for him.
"Hey."
"Hey." She smiled brightly and led him out onto Diagon Alley. "It's easiest to apparate." Brigid grabbed his hand so they could apparate together. Ron's ears went hot again as he simultaneously worried about being splinched and if his hands were too sweaty.
"Okay." He focused. Please don't get splinched, please don't get splinched. He heard a pop and they were in Hogsmeade, standing outside the Hog's Head. Memories flashed across his brain. The first DA meeting, meeting Aberforth for the first time. He wondered if the passageway to Hogwarts was still open. Maybe Aberforth would pity him and let him sneak through to the kitchens.
"Ron?" Ron snapped his head up. "Yeah, sorry. Just thinking."
"About?"
"Food?" He laughed. "Sorry, I was actually wondering if the passageway from here to Hogwarts was open. And then I thought if it was, it might be nice to stop by the kitchens." Ron's appetite has slowly returned over the last few weeks and he began to feel a bit more like himself. Brigid giggled at his response.
"Really? Is that what you miss about Hogwarts?" She asked as she held the pub door open for him.
"Well, it certainly wasn't the classes or nearly dying each year." Ron couldn't help but notice that he was smiling. It had been awhile since conversation had felt genuine. It felt nice to be with someone who didn't constantly ask how he was feeling. He appreciated the support but he couldn't take the coddling.
"Aberforth!" Brigid yelled excitedly as she walked in, throwing her arms out to greet him. Ron nearly fell over as he watched a wide grin spread across Aberforth's face as he came to hug Brigid back. He had never in his life seen Aberforth so jolly.
"Ah little Brigid Parker. You haven't been in in a couple of weeks!" Ron watched this exchange in fascination.
"Well, I've had to pick up some extra shifts at the shop. Don't get me wrong, I can use the money but it is clearly cutting into my pub time and well, that's quite unacceptable."
"Agreed." Aberforth began to pour her a pint as she sat at the bar and noticed Brigid was not alone.
"Ronald Weasley?" Aberforth's eyebrows furrowed and he looked at Brigid.
"Yeah, he like, is back from the dead or something?" Brigid supplied. "All I know is if I was dead, and then wasn't, I would absolutely need a drink." Aberforth slid the first pint to Ron.
"I think you might be right." Aberforth continued. "I had heard that you were back. It's good to see you." Ron nodded taking a seat at the bar.
"Thanks." He replied taking a sip of his pint. "You too." After Aberforth gave Brigid her glass, he went to the back to attend to some chores.
"So, nearly dying each year huh?" Brigid smiled, picking up the conversation from when they were outside.
"Well, to be fair, fourth year was a bit slow for me. What about you?"
"No, no near death experiences really. Well, the Battle of Hogwarts, yes, but I don't really count that." Ron didn't know what to say. He felt so stupid at that moment. When had he lost his ability to hold a conversation? He felt relieved when Brigid continued.
"George tells me you are a Chudley Cannons fan?"
"Huge! Although, I haven't seen them in a while, of course. Hermione actually made me a book that had article clippings and stats over the last six years. So, I'm confident that I'm at least partially caught up. Are you a fan?" Ron briefly thought of Hermione. What was she doing right now?
"Well, I grew up in the muggle world so I didn't really have a team going into Hogwarts but when I found out their motto was 'Let's all just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best?' I knew I found a team to support. " She chuckled, "Plus I look rather striking in orange." She straightened her back and puffed up her chest a little to make her point.
"I do not." Ron laughed, he ruffled his hair.
"Yeah, I imagine that red hair has its disadvantages." She reached up and lightly touched the end of his now-long locks. Ron's breath hitched. How long had it been since someone had touched him not to pity him and not to hurt him? As she pulled her hand away her fingers lightly grazed his neck. Ron did everything in his power not to close his eyes at the warmth. He pressed on trying not to get ahead of himself.
"It has its advantages as well though. For example, I don't have to introduce myself to anyone. They immediately know I'm a Weasley."
"I don't think you have to introduce yourself, in general." Brigid leaned in, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't know if you know this, but you're still quite famous." She smirked as she leaned back. Ron laughed into his beer.
"Do you need another?" Brigid asked pointing at his drink. Ron looked at it and considered whether he should stay.
"You know what, yeah. Let's do it. I don't work until noon tomorrow."
"Me neither." Brigid shot him a mischievous look which Ron wholeheartedly returned.
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After a few hours, it was safe to say Ron and Brigid were sufficiently tipsy.
"I've got to get home." Ron breathed in, dreading it. He was having such a great time with Brigid that he didn't want to leave.
"Yeah, it's getting quite late and I probably shouldn't keep drinking, this." She waved her hand a bottle of liquor Aberforth had put in front of them.
"What is it anyway?" Ron hiccuped. "It tastes like- like-"
"Cinnamon and shame." Brigid supplied hopping off her stool and grabbing her coat.
"Exactly."
"Aberforth! We are leaving!" She yelled and Aberforth came to the doorway of the back office to say goodbye. As they walked out, Ron tripped on a step and stumbled. Brigid caught him and stood him up straight.
"I don't think you should apparate." She laughed.
"Eh, I've been splinched before." She looked at him in bewilderment before noticing the goofy grin he had plastered on his face. "I'm clumsy, not wasted."
"Well, I guess this is goodbye!" She was dawdling. Ron looked at her unsure of what to do next. Did she want him to kiss her? Because he wanted to kiss her badly. He looked at her for a moment before bravely grabbing her face and kissing her lips lightly.
"Thank you for tonight." Ron whispered against her lips, his forehead against hers. Brigid responded by pulling him back down. She was much taller than the few other women he had kissed; he barely had to crane his neck to reach her. Her lips slid over his tentatively as she ran her hands through his hair and Ron took the chance to deepen the kiss. As he walked her against the brick wall of the pub, he pressed firmly against it, steadying both of them as his forearm rested near her head. His other hand was at her waist, pulling her close while his body pressed her against the wall.
"Alright kids. This is a family neighborhood." Aberforth's voice cut through the moment like a knife as the separated. He was standing at the entrance of the pub, eyebrows raised. Ron could feel his face burning with arousal and embarrassment. Ron looked at Brigid who wasn't meeting his eyes. Her face was flushed and she was wearing a half smile on her face and biting her lip. She was the first to speak.
"Ah, yes. Well, Ron, I'll see you at work tomorrow." She held out her hand to shake it. He shook it. "Goodnight to you both." And with that she was gone. Ron looked at Aberforth who was looking back at him sternly.
"Yeah, I am going to go too." Ron, motioning in the direction of where she had disappeared. He walked swiftly away, replaying what had just happened before apparating home.