A.N. I think I've never written a story where nothing sexual happens in the first, idk, 4-5 chapters :D :D This one is new for me too, so bear with it, please? I'm getting there... or at least I try...

Chapter 10 – Melting

Auror Harry Potter stood on the roof of the nearby building, watching the boy walking proudly down the street. Harry smiled – the lad had his father's pale golden hair… and exactly THE "young Draco Malfoy ultimate haughty glare". His eyes softened however when a golden retriever passed by him and the boy fought a longing stare after the animal. Instead, he walked into the bookstore a few steps down the street. Harry followed him, quietly like he was used to.

Scorpius Malfoy walked right to the back of the bookstore, its most secluded place, and hid amongst the book shelves. For a moment Harry felt the old stupid impulse "Follow Malfoy, find out what he's up to" and smiled to himself… old habits…

Draco's son however was obviously up to nothing bad. In fact, he just pulled out a book (muggle history, Harry noted, greatly surprised) and turned over a few pages. He looked not only interested in the book, but he had forgotten all pose and haughtiness – he smiled slightly, probably not even realizing it.

Footsteps were heard nearby and the book in the blonde's hands was hastily closed and hidden behind his back as he looked around – as if he were reading a porn book, Harry fought his chuckle. Once the footsteps were gone, Scorpius took another thoughtful look at the book. He finally pulled out his wand and charmed the cover of the book, leaving its price the same though (Harry was once again quite surprised – that was quite an advanced charm and the boy was supposed to be in his third year at Hogwarts). Satisfied with his handy work the young Malfoy took the book the counter, paid it, nodding majestically to the clerk and walked out, his nose back up in the air.

Hmmm, Harry thought under his Invisibility Cloak, it seemed Malfoys were all but easy to read.

"…What?.!"

"Hm?"

"You were staring, Potter. At me. Why?"

Harry smiled vaguely. Instead of answering, he asked a question of his own.

"What do you think about history?"

"… It's something one must know in order to not do mistakes that have already been done. Why do you ask?"

"Is that all it is to you – a way to not repeat someone's else mistakes?"

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Are you going to be the psychologist today, Potter? Is that why Swanson is not here yet?"

"We're just having a normal talk, Draco…"

The grey eyes widened in the same time Harry took note of his slip - in his mind he had began calling them, respectively, 'Draco' and 'Scorpius', to make a difference between the two Malfoys. Surprisingly, the blonde didn't make any smart or biting remarks, he just nodded.

Another surprise, Harry admitted.

"So… what kind of books do you like to read?", Harry tried again.

The blonde snorted.

"What?", Harry frowned.

"It sounded like you were asking your date", the Malfoy heir smirked.

Harry fought down his blush, determined to make his opponent uncomfortable, the way Malfoy had tried.

"I could be, you know…", he drawled.

The smirk faded.

"I'm a man", the blonde noted.

"I can see that", Harry smiled, a real smile as he suddenly realized.

"No, just… the way you said that, it sounded like… you know, 'Sure, I could be inviting you on a date'…"

"Yes, I meant that."

"… I'm a man."

"We already established that."

"…You were married."

"You remember that?", Harry wanted to ask, but instead just said "Were. Why do you think I'm not anymore?", he smiled darkly.

He didn't like to remember that. When he had realized (yes, after being married for awhile, to a woman, and having had three children) that he checked out men's asses at work and not big breasts… when he had kissed that colleague who had his eyes on him from the first day with the Aurors, and it had felt right… when Harry had finally came out… Ginny's hysteria, her screams, their fights in the court for the kids… "I will not let my boys be raised by a fag!"…

They had been happy… He had loved her, he had…! … How had it turned out like that? … Why? One kiss… or years of unconsciously checking out his colleagues at work, all men… Harry didn't know. He only knew it was over and he didn't want to think about it anymore…

"But…", Draco finally uttered quietly, looking genuinely confused "I'm… me…"

"Why would you like to go out with me…?", those eyes said and Harry's heart skipped a beat. He knew he would have gone and grabbed Draco's hand again, reassuringly, or even hugged the guy…

If Robert Swanson didn't chose this exact moment to come into the room.

"Good morning, gentlemen! Are we up for some talking and grown-up behavior today too?", he smiled. Then, he saw their faces, both looking confused. "Gentlemen?"

An hour later, Robert Swanson collapsed in his chair behind his desk, a tired, but satisfied smile on his face – the ice had begun to melt…

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