Saturday, September 26th.
Harry apperated in a little muggle street lined with shops, restaurants, and food trucks. The sun was nearly set, the trees that lined the street were all wound with white christmas lights, giving the darkening street a warm glow. People were walking all about, some with kids, some holding hands. Draco had to admit that it rivaled the streets of Hogsmeade.
Harry laced his fingers through Draco's, tugging gently, to walk with him. Draco looked down at their hands and grinned, 'we can just be us'. Draco squeezed his hand and walked down the street with him.
"Hermione recommended this place." Harry mentioned.
"It's nice."
"I came through here earlier to have a look around. I thought we could walk a little and then maybe get dinner?"
"Great." he was nervous about being in this muggle community.
They silently hand in hand, and after a while, Draco forgot they were in a muggle street. They didn't have to worry about who would see them, no one was even looking at them. They walked through a dimly lit community garden, most of the blooms had come and gone, but the majority of the plants were still green. The twinkling lights that lingered through the trees along the walkway casts shadows all over. Draco would never have found himself in a place like this before the war. It was too closed off and too easy to be attacked.
"This is . . . really nice. Thank you for bringing me." Draco said. He brought Harry's hand up and brushed his lips against it with a kiss.
Harry pulled him close, weaving one hand under his coat to place his hand on the small of his back. He stepped up to kiss him, a quick, soft kiss.
"Do you remember last week, when you just wanted to be friends?" Harry joked.
"Oh, I wanted to be more than friends, I just thought this would never work. Maybe it won't."
Harry punched him in the arm, "oh, it's going to work. Someday we'll be all grown up and no one will care about Draco Malfoy or Harry Potter. One day we'll be able to go on a date in our world without worrying about who might see us. One day, Draco, we will wake up old and gray and we won't have regretted a single day."
Draco stopped walking, Harry only noticed when he was jerked back slightly by his sudden halt. Harry gave him a questioning look.
"You can't possibly mean that." Draco said.
"Mean what?"
"How long do you think this is going to last? Honestly, how long are you expecting we can go on together? Not to say it hasn't been great, but think about the backlash you'll get when people find out that you're dating me."
"The people I care about most already know." Harry retorted.
"Great, fine you have amazing people in your life that accept you no matter what. When you grow up you can be with whomever you please - "
"Draco."
Draco pulled his hand from Harry's and took a few steps back.
"I can't believe I did this. This isn't right. Harry, I'm sorry, I never should have - I need to go."
"Please don't do this." Harry pleaded.
Draco heard his sincerity, knew that Harry meant what he said. He knew that Harry deserved a better partner, he knew he had to leave.
Draco turned with a loud crack, disapperating.
Harry stood for a long while; the sky became darker and the wind chilled his bones.
His wand chimed, reminding him of curfew. He knew he had to leave, and he did, hoping that Draco had returned to the castle.