~ Hogwarts ~
School started again without any problems until the third week…
~ Potions class ~
On Tuesday morning, Draco stood at the front of the class, glaring at the fourth year Slytherin and Gryffindor students sitting before him.
"No one is leaving until the person, or people, who threw fireworks into Ben's cauldron own up," Draco said firmly. "I have a free period next so we can sit here as long as it takes."
The students squirmed uncomfortably in their seats. No one wanted to stay longer and they all needed to get to their next class.
Draco had a pretty good idea who the culprit was but he didn't have any proof. The obvious suspect was Ryan. He was now looking deceptively innocent. Far too innocent to be believable. Ben (a Gryffindor) and Ryan (a Slytherin) were archrivals, each out to get the other in as much trouble as possible and Draco was sick to death of both of them.
Draco sat down at his desk and started marking homework. He kept his expression neutral and did not look at the students. They knew better than to talk at this time. As a teacher, Draco was nothing like Snape but he was firm and the students knew not to cross him.
Finally, Ryan stood up. "Professor Potter?"
Draco finished marking a page of homework then looked up.
"It was me," Ryan said, his eyes downcast.
"Twenty points from Slytherin and detention tonight, here at eight o'clock," Draco said calmly. "Dismissed."
The Three Broomsticks
On Friday night, Draco was sitting at a table in the pub with George. Hermione and Ron were looking after Daniel for him while he went on his first official date with George. He had been unsure of whether it was a good idea to go out on a date. He still felt guilty about it, like he was cheating on Harry. But Hermione had insisted that he have a night out and have some fun for a change.
"So how's school been?" George asked him, sipping his glass of redcurrent rum and coke.
"Okay. The rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor is going to kill me one of these days," Draco joked. "I swear it's far worse now than when we were in school."
"Is it really? Or is it just that your perspective is different?" George asked with a knowing grin.
"Okay, so they're probably not quite as bad as Harry and I, but it's still damn annoying to have your class interrupted by those two wannabe's," Draco complained goodnaturedly. "No wonder Snape was as negative as he was. We were enough to drive anyone insane."
"How's Daniel?" George asked.
"Good, he's good," Draco replied with a proud smile. "He's growing so fast. He's like a little weed."
"Oh, I saw Charlie and Justin last week. Their son, Lachlan, is eight months now. He's gorgeous," George said.
"How about Fred and Lavender? Have they procreated yet?" Draco asked with a grin.
"Not that I know of," George replied, grinning back at him. "But I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Pretty soon Hogwarts will be overrun with Weasley's again!"
"Oh god, no!" Draco said, teasingly. "How's the store going?"
Draco only half listened to George's enthusiastic recount of the store's best selling products. He was trying to kill a little voice inside that was telling him that he was a cheating bastard. Harry's gone, he thought angrily. He doesn't love me, he doesn't want me and here is someone who does, so just fuck off.
Fortunately that seemed to silence the voice…for now.
"…and our Canary Creams have been number one on the Diagon Alley Bestseller List ever since the store opened," George was saying proudly.
"That's amazing. You've been open…what, three years? Four?" Draco replied.
"Five, actually," George said.
Draco glanced towards the back of the pub, where there was space for dancing and a guy singing cheesy love songs. "Want to dance?"
George looked a bit surprised but he agreed and they stood up and walked to the back of the room. Draco pulled George into his arms and rested his head on the redhead's shoulder as they swayed to the music. George's arms felt strange around him, so very different to Harry's.
Being with George was very different to being with Harry. But it was nice. It felt good to be wanted again.
George's arms tightened slightly around him and Draco leaned back a little to look into his eyes. They stared at each other for a moment before George leaned in to press his lips against Draco's.
It was soft and pleasant and warm but ultimately too much too soon. Draco pulled away.
"I'm sorry," George said softly.
"No, I'm sorry," Draco said equally softly. "It's just a bit too soon for me. I need to take this really slowly. Ridiculously slowly."
"That's fine with me. I don't want to rush you," George replied reaching up to brush Draco's cheek gently with his fingers. He pulled Draco back against them and they continued dancing.
Draco's mind was a mass of confusion. He felt hypocritical for going on this date and then putting the breaks on when something totally normal for a date happened. This is stupid, he thought. It was a nice kiss. Sure, there weren't any fireworks, like with Harry. But surely something like that is only once in a lifetime. George would be good with Daniel and he'd be good for me too.
TBC
A.N. Sorry I haven't shown who Eve's partner is. I changed the order of my chapters and next three chapters are in Harry's point of view and we do finally meet the guy who is 'helping' Eve.