Author's Note: Another shorty
Chapter 14
The same time, across town
" Four in the corner," Blaise announced, lining up his cue. He'd asked Draco to unwind at the Leaky Cauldron with a game of Wizard's Billiards after the march along Diagon Alley. Blaise hit the cue ball and set the four spinning. It seemed as though he was about to make the shot, when the ball whizzed in the opposite direction, shooting sparks.
Blaise sighed, " Alright, the pocket."
Draco laughed, and sipped his firewhiskey, " Good luck. How was the marching today? Get some desperation dates?"
" I'll keep you posted," Blaise answered with a laugh.
The door to the bar swung open and Draco heard a few muffled cheers. He turned. It was Weasley and Potter, back from the crusades in raincoats with "No Marriage Law No Way" badges. They shook a few hands and made their way to the bar.
" Rowena Ravenclaw in a Row Boat," Draco muttered under his breath, " I never should have come here."
" What?" Blaise whipped his head around obviously, " Ah. Well… they're probably not looking for us, let's just finish the game."
No sooner had the words left Blaise's lips as Weasley locked eyes with Draco and motioned for Potter. They left the bar in a beeline for their Billiard's table.
" Merlin, look less death eater-y," Draco muttered and Blaise schooled his expression into a vacant stare, " I didn't say 'look like you're under the imperius.'"
" It's my Longbottom impression," Blaise said.
" Malfoy, it's been a long time," Potter said cheerfully, " My wife tells me you didn't make it to the protest today."
" Potter. Weasley. I had work," Draco replied simply.
" Most of us took off work," Weasley grunted.
" Well in your case Weasley, I assume when you're gone the workplace incidents go down ten-fold," Draco retorted, watching with satisfaction as Weasley's ears went bright red, " And the auror office would do anything to keep the famous Harry Potter."
" That's well out of line, Malfoy," Potter chastised hotly.
Blaise tried to break the tension by offering Weasley his hand, " Weasley, long time no see."
Weasley ignored him, and tried to stare Draco down, " Don't you believe in our cause?"
" I do," Draco defended.
" Then take a day off and come. I'll even speak to the Department of Mysteries myself," Potter proposed. Weasley nodded.
" Why are you so set on me coming?" Draco narrowed his eyes.
" Well…" Potter started, trailing off.
" We, um…" Weasley stuttered.
" Come on, I want to go home eventually," Draco hastened them on.
" They didn't mean for me to, but I overheard Ginny and Hermione talking about you," Weasley offered sheepishly, " About… the fight and... everything."
Draco was taken aback. This was not the reaction he would have expected.
" So what, are you trying to matchmake, Potter? Because that's… complete lunacy," Draco couldn't even think of something clever to say.
" No! Oh Christ No!" Harry exclaimed, " Hermione was clearly… upset that you didn't come. I think… I mean we…"
" We don't want you to get in her way, about the charm thing," Weasley blurted out.
" What? Why would I want to? She doesn't trust me, that's not my fault," Draco countered.
" Well it kind of is, mate," Blaise interjected. Weasley nodded appreciatively, which made Draco roll his eyes.
" I'm not scheming to marry Granger and lock her in my dungeons, alright? I'd marry a mandrake first," Draco promised, " And as much as I would like to come to the protest, honestly I would, there's another reason besides my job."
" Which is?" Potter asked.
" I walked through the protest to get to work yesterday and it was… difficult. For me to get through the crowd I mean. People kept stopping me. Accusing me of things. If I came, I would just be a distraction," Draco loathed having to admit this to them. Potter almost had a sympathetic look on his face. What he would give to give him a good solid punch to the jaw. He took a large gulp of firewhiskey instead.
Potter contemplated this for a long moment, " That's probably true. Perhaps you were right to stay away."
" Well wait…" Weasley interrupted, " I have an idea."
Draco shook his head, " Whatever it is, it's impossible. I can't walk into a crowd."
" At least hear him out, Drake," Blaise interjected. Draco shot him a nasty look.
" Well that's why I'm thinking you don't walk into the crowd," Weasley raised one eyebrow, " Not as yourself at least."
There was a long pause while this information was digested.
" Well you have my attention Weaslebee," Draco said finally.