Phase 6-B – The Perfect Date

"Harry! Wow, more stunning than ever! See, George? He's now taller than last August!" Fred greeted him, and his twin replied, "I think it's because he's thinner now. Must've been forced to a diet by his skinny fiancé. Where's your viper sweetie?"

Smirking, Harry gestured to the said viper who was standing rather nervously on the doorway to The Three Broomsticks. Fred and George gasped when they saw Draco. The twins immediately went to the Slytherin, who watched them with a leery frown, and sandwiched him, much to the blond boy's surprise.

"Look who's here! Ickle Malfoy has grown up! Drake baby, you're sooo gorgeousss," George squeezed fondly. "We're thrilled you dressed this exquisitely just to meet us, Dracolicious!" Fred exclaimed, groping the slender body in his arms shamelessly.

Draco looked embarrassed beyond words and a bit horrified, his face rapidly growing deep pink. "Uh… I just… actually I…" Immobilized, he quelled the urge to scream for help.

Hermione surreptitiously sneaked a glance at Harry. She saw him grinning good-naturedly and standing with folded arms in a relaxed manner, watching the twins tease his fiancé in nothing but amusement.

"Fred, George, release him. He can't breathe crushed with your fat bodies like that."

"Bugger me! Ronniekins, didn't know you fancy him too!" "You can't have him, Ronnie! Have Hermione instead!" Both Fred and George tightened his hold on Draco.

Ron's face started equalling his hair in colour. "I said he couldn't breathe! Don't expect me to help if Harry wants to kill you!"

"Harry seems just fine, right Harry?"

Harry unfolded his arms and approached his fiancé. "I think Draco can't breathe." He easily pulled the almost crying Draco from the twins' loosening embrace. Grinning at the others, Harry draped an arm over Draco's neck from behind. "My fiancé is incredibly beautiful, isn't he?"

"Absolutely true."

Harry and Draco looked at Hermione, who was standing behind Harry, smiling like an innocent with shrewd eyes. Draco felt the arm round him tightened considerably. He didn't dare look at Harry's face, but he clutched Harry's wrist under his jaw, trying to calm the boy. He smiled back gently to Hermione, and somehow he could sense that Harry also returned the smile to her coolly. Next second, George's voice averted their attention.

"He's magnificent, Harry. Draco, in times like this I can easily forget your nastiness to us in previous years."

"Praise me more and more, and I'll forget your brutality to me in my fifth year."

They all laughed and spent the next few hours reminiscing the past while eating lunch together. Draco was quite amazed himself that by the time they were going to leave The Three Broomsticks, he had drastically upgraded his opinion on the Weasley Twins and vice-versa. They were almost good friends now. Before they left in the late afternoon, the twins dragged Harry away and cornered him. Both Weasleys presented an impish grin.

"Sooo, Harry James Potter," Fred placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, "You're a young man now, surely you know already about the basic knowledge, so let's just go to the point."

George continued after his twin, "We're dying from curiosity about the length of your relationship with Draco. Tell us the details, such as how frequent, how long, how many times per night, etc."

The black-haired boy blushed furiously. "I… we… we're just engaged for a month." The two redheads glanced at each other before simultaneously re-directing their gaze to Harry.

"In other words, you haven't taken him to bed? You haven't consummated your engagement?" "George means you two haven't shagged yet?"

Harry shook his head weakly. Should he inform them too that he hadn't kissed Draco on the lips?

"Blimey! Harry, your Sex God reputation has been heard even in Diagon Alley!" "What's the problem, mate?"

"There's no problem at all. We've decided not to rush everything. Firstly we must get used to each other's presence. Draco and I were not exactly friends before."

"But you've been in love with him for nearly a year!" "Aren't you frustrated?" Harry stifled a groan and smiled before he shook his head confidently. Nobody should know that he was driven mad with mounting yearning. Draco had been much more comfortable around him, but he still craved for more intimate touches.

Fred and George stocked him with encouraging tips and tricks to court Draco into the next step of their relationship, plus some magic items which were judged useful for Harry after he had accomplished his courting attempt. Harry gaped at how well-equipped these Weasleys were, making it clear what their real intention was to meet Harry in Hogsmeade.

When he was released by the twins, Harry was still red from face to neck. He clutched a little velvet pouch filled with those kinky magic items, conveniently shrunk. Smiling bashfully at his fiancé who watched him with narrowed eyes, Harry made up what the twins had said to him. Draco glanced at the pouch but didn't ask what was inside it. He didn't want to know if his suspicion was right.

They strolled along the street in Hogsmeade, Ron and Hermione in front of Draco and Harry. People kept staring admiringly at the two boys, but neither Harry nor Draco was affected any longer. Harry was telling his fiancé about the incident in Gryffindor Common Room spurred by the Weasley Twins on Hallowe'en last year.

"…and Ron blamed Hermione because she insisted on bringing that 'Pumpkin Spirit' to the Common Room, while she blamed him for accepting the package in the first place. Ron should've known that anything sent by his twin brothers must be carefully inspected first before he could declare it as harmless. Professor McGonagall didn't want to listen to our arguments and…"

Draco let the taller boy chatter on and on. Thinking Harry wouldn't see, he took a glimpse at Hermione. It really pained him seeing her walking side by side with Ron, smiling shyly at each other, the back of their hands brushing. 'Gods, just get on with it, you two! Just… leave me in peace…' He couldn't do anything however, although something crawled along his spine and another thing clenched his chest. He averted his gaze before Harry could catch him looking at her with that jealousy written all over his face. Draco didn't know that Harry had already seen him.

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At five in the afternoon, Ron and Hermione returned to Hogwarts while Harry and Draco would carry on their real date. The Slytherin boy followed his fiancé to the final destination and they stopped after climbing a slope in front of a small house with boarded windows. Draco smirked, having guessed this before. So Harry decided they would have a dinner at the Shrieking Shack.

"I recall you said once that we could reach this place from Whomping Willow."

"I wouldn't bring you here through the hole in its roots and the dingy passage in our date. Otherwise you might want to kill me."

Draco pursed his lips and nodded in affirmative. "This place brings back an awful memory. You once threw mud at me under your Invisibility Cloak. I thought my brain was deranged that time, with your head floating mid-air."

Harry hugged him from behind and nuzzled his shoulder. "You never forget, do you? I'm so sorry, Draco. I think all my life I must make up for my shameful actions against you."

"Heh. I can't believe it's so easy to make you feel guilty," Draco patted Harry's arm and turned his head with a wide grin. "I had my fun too afterwards when reporting you to Snape. He said a lot of funny things about the swollen head of the famous Harry Potter."

Harry grinned back, "Why, you spoiled little monster."

They walked past the not-so-overgrown-any-more garden and stood before the entrance door. Draco fingered the frame of the window beside the door. It was dustless; obviously Harry had prepared everything to the smallest detail. He knew this place hold a special meaning for some people, like Harry and Lupin. "Is Lupin okay having his old home debauched for our date?"

Harry smiled. "Remus said himself he was more than okay ('as long as I keep your virginity intact afterwards'). He has considered you as a family too, Draco, and this place is always open for family."

"I'm really sorry, for disparaging your family all the time. And for underestimating your mother's sacrifice that time." 'Had Mother not defended me by lowering her own dignity, I would've lost my limbs, or my life.'

"It's okay. I've forgotten about that." Harry sighed. "My parents died for me, and up till now I haven't been able to avenge them. I don't even know whether I really have grown up to meet their expectation."

"They could never be prouder of you than now." He added in a quieter voice, "I wish my father would be proud of me."

"He loves you, Draco. Maybe you don't live up to his faulty principles, but he still cares about your well-being. You're still his son."

Draco didn't reply, hoping that Harry was right despite his own doubt that Lucius was capable of love. He had been convinced that Lucius only cared about the Malfoy name and blood carried by Draco, but his father never understood about family love.

Harry opened the door and stood there, "Come inside, Draco." Behind the door, there was a velvet curtain hanging which concealed whatever inside the shack.

Behind the curtain... There would be just the two of them. Inside a remote shack secluded from the rest of the village. Draco tried not to sound as terrified as he actually felt. "Potter, this surprise is better not like what I think it is."

"I'm not going to rape you, if that's what you're so scared about."

"Phew, that's comforting." Pulling aside the curtain, Draco walked in and said without turning his head to Harry behind him, "I must always be cautious since I'm so ravishing. Or at least someone has convinced me I'm ravishing." His fiancé smiled and shook his head before following inside the shack.

When Harry locked the door, he heard a gasp from his fiancé and smiled in satisfaction. As for Draco, he had been staring ever since he took a look at what behind the curtain. But even after they widened and he rubbed them repeatedly, Draco couldn't believe his eyes.

"Wha… This… ?"

The sight that greeted him was like a hallucination. The whole room was decorated resembling a dining room of a royal palace. A round table was positioned in the middle along with two cushioned chairs. From the low ceiling, petals of rose drifted up and down teasingly above them. Encircling the enchanted ceiling, glowing pearly balls hovered in the air, providing a soft and romantic illumination for the whole room. Nothing in here could betray the dilapidated exterior of this house. But the room décor was hardly a surprise, no matter how beautiful it was. No, the view which made Draco doubt his sanity was a row of glass tankards containing Butterbeer in front of him, all dancing in the air and emitting sparks around them. He felt like a drunken House-Elf only by the sight of it.

"Harry, please tell me you also see them…"

"The Butterbeer? They are my surprise for you."

Draco turned to face Harry behind him, and Harry perceived astonishment flickering in those silver eyes.

"Surprise? I wasn't surprised; I almost believed I'd turned into a nutter!"

"Err, I didn't know it would be that bizarre."

"You don't expect me to drink them, do you?"

"Gods, no! They are our attendants for tonight. I don't want any other people or even another living being to be present in our first date. This is just for you and me."

"Living tankards don't count, I see. But Harry, why Butterbeer?"

"Why not?"

Draco sighed. "You have the… weirdest… idea, Potter."

"Thanks."

The tankards drifted to approach them and helped them take off their coats with invisible hands. Draco felt stupid interacting with enchanted tankards which acted as their servants, but after a while he admitted that this was a lovely date as well as funny.

They sat down and the living tankards served a series of fabulous dinner before them. Two tankards floated towards them, each of them bringing a tiny violin. The made up violin players played romantic songs for the boys while they enjoyed the dinner. Their hands kept brushing each other teasingly, and Harry spent most of his time to ogle Draco in front of him instead of paying attention to his meal.

Draco couldn't stop smiling throughout the dinner, his face also blushing slightly. Harry's eyes on him made him feel shy and flattered at once, unlike the familiar sensation he had when people on the street were staring at him. Being an object of desire of the most wanted bachelor in Wizarding World always tasted different. On the other hand, his pleased expression brought a heavenly smile on Harry's face.

Placing his hand over Draco's on the table, Harry asked softly, "How do you think of our date, Draco?"

"Truthfully? I don't know if being surrounded by enchanted tankards filled by Butterbeer could be categorized as romantic."

"I call this show Charmed Butterbeer."

"Oh? Patented already? Had you asked me first, you could've chosen a better name. But I admit it, Harry, these Charmed Butterbeer make decent servants. Can you show me their other abilities?"

Harry grinned. "Glad you asked. Watch them."

He snapped his fingers, and the Charmed Butterbeer performed some acrobatic moves in the air, occasionally spurting the Butterbeer to form mini fountain. Not even Draco in his sinister mood would laugh at the childish entertainment, because of the magical atmosphere surrounding the place, and for the present Draco the Charmed Butterbeer only appeared beautiful. He was reminded of his childhood life and his childhood fantasy. For the climax, those enchanted tankards gushed their contents simultaneously, displaying a big, splendid fountain of Butterbeer.

Harry suddenly stood up and walked to stand beside Draco. He stretched out his hand.

"Dance with me."

Draco looked at Harry from his sitting position. The standing boy had a calm face, but Draco could sense that Harry was actually very nervous. He seemed worried that Draco would turn him down. Draco intended to smirk, but it came out as an amused smile. He reached for the offered hand and stood up. He smiled even wider and almost giggled when he saw Harry's face brighten considerably.

However, he didn't smile any more when Harry pulled him until their torsos from chest to hip were pressed together, and that super-handsome face of a Hogwarts Sex God was just an inch from his own. Suddenly the room's temperature felt too hot for Draco, who already had his face burning and his palms cold-sweating.

"Loosen your arms. I can't… we can't move freely like this." Draco blushed even more at how husky his voice sounded.

This time it was Harry's turn to smile in amusement. Instead of granting Draco's request, he tightened his hold and bumped the tips of their noses together. Draco's breath mingled with his own. "We've hugged a lot before, mon bel amour. Why so shy all of a sudden?"

Draco didn't know what to answer. He blamed Harry's sixteen 'You're ravishing' claims, which still affected him even after several hours had passed. But Harry right now looked more beautiful than ever. Then he felt Harry start to sway in accordance to the slow music played by the Charmed Butterbeer violinists, and his own body glided automatically adjusting to Harry's movement. It was illogical, yet he could move just fine with their bodies attached so close like that. Unconsciously Draco slipped his arms to encircle Harry's neck while his body relaxed in Harry's embrace. Some Charmed Butterbeer were dancing around them. Everything felt like a dream, like magic.

"I love you."

Harry's whisper was blended with the music, but the lips were close to his ear and the feel of Harry's breath tickling his sensitive spot along with the three words themselves sent a delicious thrill along Draco's spine. After a brief inhalation, Draco rested his head on Harry's shoulder and fastened his arms round Harry's neck.

The next second both boys sprang apart with a gasp. Furious blush covered their faces and they stared open-mouthed at each other. Draco cautiously lowered his eyes to Harry's groin area, and the second he had confirmed that a hardness digging into him before was real, he promptly turned about with widened eyes, clamping his mouth with his palm and blushing even deeper.

"Whoops," Harry grinned sheepishly and turned his back too, thinking from Aunt Marge to Voldemort to make the bulge seen through his jeans disappear. He had always anticipated this moment, knowing very well this part of his body always came alive with excitement whenever he was too close to Draco. But he didn't expect it to happen now, because he had intended to make everything innocently romantic.

For the next minute the two just stood silently a few feet apart with their backs facing each other, the only sound heard was fading music from the Charmed Butterbeer. Partially calmed, Harry turned his head to look at his fiancé. He saw Draco glance surreptitiously to him, still very pink. Harry smiled shyly at him, and beyond his expectation the blond returned his smile with a bashful giggle, his mouth half-covered by his hand. That wasn't what he needed to calm his hard-on, for the sight of that beautiful boy was entirely arousing. Harry whipped back his head, flushing uncontrollably. His erection had hardened again, and this time the picture of Voldemort in coconut bras didn't do the trick like before.

Not realizing he had just re-aroused his fiancé, Draco turned and approached Harry slowly, causing the taller boy to be frantic with embarrassment. From behind him, Draco reached to touch Harry's shoulder. Harry was desperately thinking of whatever less stimulating things when his aid finally arrived.

First it was a loud bang from outside the door making the whole shack quake. The following second, the door burst open revealing their unwelcome guests. Draco was pop-eyed while Harry found an instant cure for his arousal.

Trolls. End of the privacy…

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Draco refrained from stamping his foot in tantrum. Really, for his first date in his whole life, he would've never imagined four ugly Trolls were included. He glared at Harry who looked back with confused expression. Didn't Harry know that his reputation as the Boy-Who-Lived was what invited all foul creatures to disrupt their occasion?

"Uh, I should've put a barricade too in addition to locking the door," Harry muttered awkwardly. His fiancé wasn't amused.

Draco muttered something under his breath before grabbing Harry and disapparating from Shrieking Shack. Apparition was one thing he could do better than Harry, so much that he was able to bring other things with him when he performed it. The Ministry of Magic had granted special license for him to perform Apparition before he was 17, as a reward for his rescue of Hermione. They apparated outside and Harry was surprised to see their enemies also transported along with them. "Draco, the Trolls…"

"You can't expect me to leave them behind, destroying our dating room and your Charmed Butterbeer, can you? I've grown fond of them." Harry smiled happily at how much Draco appreciated his works and their first date. The problem was just for people in Hogsmeade, as those Trolls started to wreak havoc around them. Draco intentionally apparated among the crowd; this egocentric brat was extremely miffed if he couldn't share his misfortune with others.

Suddenly the Trolls stiffened and all of them turned towards Draco and Harry. It was evident that someone controlled these creatures and specifically targeted the two boys, though Draco was absolutely positive it was only Harry whom they wanted. Harry grabbed Draco's arm and hauled the protesting boy to run from the main road.

The boys now were standing on an open field behind the buildings with the four Trolls, who had followed them. As the Trolls tramped nearer and nearer, Draco glanced at his fiancé, who maintained a perfect composure in spite of those approaching giant things.

Draco raised an eyebrow, "So, Harry. Since Trolls have been your speciality since first year, show me your amazing power." Harry raised back his eyebrow in response, but he drew his wand.

"Watch me." Harry pointed his wand, "Frendo Procellanis!"

A blast of stormy wind hurled the Trolls about 100 metres backwards. Those creatures landed with heavy thump, followed by echoing sound of cracking bones. They weren't killed, but St. Mungo's would be visited by unusual patients.

Harry grinned at his open-mouthed fiancé and spoke airily, "That's my body-crusher magic in full power."

Draco sneered. "I see."

People had started to gather at one side of the field, watching the Boy-Who-Lived defeat some Trolls. It seemed that the Trolls were totally paralysed. At least they were supposed to be paralysed, considering the spell had broken their ribs. Much to everybody's shock, the Trolls got up on their feet again. Their eyes turned red and they started walking towards the boys.

Harry frowned, dissatisfied as his spell was ineffective, but more than that he was incensed that someone had manipulated these creatures so cruelly like this. He turned his head when he felt Draco tapping his shoulder from behind with his wand. The blond arched his eyebrows elegantly and gestured to the revived Trolls. "This is obviously a Dark Magic practice. Let the Master deal with it."

Harry smiled and stepped aside, "With all pleasure, my little Dragon. Go ahead and show me your amazing power." Draco smirked, "Watch me. Oriens Everso!"

The orange sky around that place became dark at once and hundreds – maybe thousands – fairies were conjured up above, their glows replaced the light of the sun. A lot of gasps were heard from people in the vicinity. Those Dark Fairies swarmed towards the Trolls and wrapped every inch of the giant bodies. Five seconds later dazzling rays of lights flashed from each of fairies-covered Trolls, before the fairies flew away leaving the Trolls to collapse. This time, they could be sure that those Trolls wouldn't suddenly get up again. If they did, the fairies would just absorb any dark magic power from them once more.

Harry whistled at the amazing sight. "Destroyer of Rising Sun. I've wondered before whether your fairies could do something else besides being ornaments."

"I don't like wasting my time for decorating spells."

"I know, that's why I wondered. My idea was that you might use them for lighting."

"Shows how much you're acquainted with Dark Magic. Dark Fairies as lighting my arse! Voldemort didn't choose to be a Dark Wizard so he could read during the night. They're not even real creatures, and… Bloody hell!"

Sighing at the new enemies whose arrival only had terrorized people around them, Harry muttered, "Bloody hell indeed." Dementors were his best friends. Harry counted their number as the Dementors drifted to where Draco and he were standing now. There were about a dozen of them.

"Draco, stay in my back," Harry instructed.

Draco looked affronted. "I can take care of myself, thank you very much."

"You're welcome, love," Harry smiled, yet his eyes didn't give way for rebuttal. "But stand back."

Draco grumbled, but he followed Harry's command. It was just because of whom their enemies were, the Dementors. He couldn't produce a Patronus like Harry; therefore he stayed back even if it hurt his pride. He hated it when he must depend on Harry. Heaven must pity him, because drops of water started falling from above and in the next few seconds it had been raining heavily.

Harry gripped Draco's hand tightly, reassuring and at the same time absorbing the mental support from his fiancé behind him. The Dementors rapidly surrounded them, but Harry was ready. "Expecto Patronum!"

The legendary stag Patronus charged onwards through the rain, scaring off the Dementors. Harry smiled at the feat of his Patronus. His greatest dream had come true, and now he wouldn't let anyone destroy his future with Draco. All his bliss and positive will flowed into his magic. His Patronus was even more powerful than usual, within only a matter of minute all the Dementors had been subdued.

On the other side, during the Dementors' attack, Draco was also surrounded by a sense of well-protected. Harry's hand squeezed his none too gently, but it made him feel safe. He didn't have to wait long until Harry's stag Patronus repelled all their opponents.

The stag trotted back to its caster. Harry stroked it, while Draco watched the Patronus closely from beside him. Although he was rather proud of Harry's ability, Draco couldn't repress his jealousy in this matter. Patronus Charm was one of his weaknesses. He didn't know why, but it seemed that he never had enough positive feelings to summon a decent Patronus. He had thought about the happiest moments with his mother and Hermione, but all he ever managed was to conjure up a silver puffy balloon – with tail. He had seriously hoped that the balloon was not the corporeal form of his Patronus. Otherwise, he really had led a sad life.

However, Draco wasn't given enough time to lament, since a sudden blast hit his back and sent him rolling on the ground. People screamed. Throwing up dirt which had entered his mouth, Draco tried to stand up. He looked all around him, pretty sure Harry had also been hit by the curse. He sighed, having spotted his fiancé a few metres in front of him, looking with concern at him. Draco nodded, indicating that he was okay. There was no need for him to worry about Harry's condition in return. Although Harry was rendered kneeling on one knee, he was practically unruffled. His defensive wall must've lessened the impact of the curse.

An unidentified man was standing quite far in front of them, laughing like a maniac. Draco didn't know who it was, but judging from his exposed arms the man didn't bear a Dark Mark.

"Harry Potter!! Tell the Hell's Angels I say hello!"

With that, he cast the Killing Curse straight at Harry. The boy hastily rolled on the ground to evade the green jet flashing at his direction, and the curse struck the spot near him. He retaliated with a stunning spell to the man, but it was easily deflected.

"Harry! My wand!" Draco's wand had been thrown away when the first curse hit them. Harry summoned the wand and threw it back to Draco. At the same time another jet of green light attacked him.

Harry muttered rapidly, "Ultima Protego," before moving again from his position. The shielding charm conjured a transparent sphere circling its caster in radius of 7 feet. The man's curse breached his barrier after 5 seconds. Nothing could block Avada Kedavra, but his Ultima Protego was much more powerful than average Protego and it was able to hinder the curse momentarily.

Quickly bored with Killing Curse, the man levitated two paralysed Trolls at the same time and a flick of his wand hurled those massive bodies towards Harry. The boy cast another Ultima Protego to invoke a wall obstructing the Trolls from him.

After deflecting another spell from Harry, the man lifted another powerless Troll but this time sent it to Draco's direction. Harry immediately deviated the flying Troll from its course, earning him an unhappy glare from Draco. As if the Slytherin Prince couldn't take care of this by himself.

The gigantic body landed on the muddy ground several feet from Draco, splattering the wet earth all around, and Draco was in a strategic position to receive a very generous mud bath. Scowling at his present appearance, Draco knew at this time he could cast a very strong Cruciatus Curse to that wacky wizard. He was in the dirtiest condition since 17 years ago right on the day of his first date.

Letting the rain wash his body, the disgruntled boy concentrated on the battle about. Good thing he did, since another Troll was sent whirling towards him straight away. Harry had been busied by another attack this time.

"Impedimenta!"

The Troll's body froze in the air and Draco swiftly escaped before that weighty bulk came crashing down. When the next moment a horde of snakes swarmed to where he was standing, Draco cast his Sun Destroyers again to deal with the assault. He took a breath, not noticing that from behind him other opponents had approached.

A sudden mental attack struck him and brought him down on his knees. He screamed as jumbled pictures of agony and blood from the fateful summer last year assaulted his mind. The image of himself shrieking as Cruciatus Curse hit him brought the same pain he felt that time to his present condition.

The tormented scream alerted Harry who had just hit his opponent with a freezing spell. "Draco!" Running towards his fiancé, Harry pointed his wand and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"

As the stag Patronus emerged for the second time in that day, the excruciating feeling started to diminish from Draco. He opened his eyes wearily and was presented with the sight of the Patronus galloping round him in a circle, protecting him from the returning Dementors.

Harry knelt down and immediately checked Draco's condition. "Are you okay?" Draco nodded but suddenly gasped. Harry spun his head around to see what had alerted Draco. The mysterious man had levitated an enormous rock and from the look of it he was going to hurl the rock to the crowd at the side of the field. Harry didn't even think for his next movement.

"Frendo Procellanis!"

Killing two birds with one stone, the strong gust which came out from his wand first struck the rock, shattering half part of it, and the remaining power hit the main target. Yet it was not a fully desirable result. As expected, the effect of that crushing tempest on a fragile body of human being was fatal. Draco stared at the mortal remains crumpling to the ground for a while and then directed his widened eyes to Harry beside him.

"You… killed him."

Harry nodded grimly. He was aware that he had just terminated a life, whereas he actually could've cast less deadly spell to paralyze the man. How easy it was to kill, now that he had the power. How easy it was for him to determine the fate of others. Because it was so easy, he didn't think twice to do it. Voldemort must have had the same thoughts. He turned to look at Draco, expecting a disgusted or accusing expression from his beloved. But that was not what he encountered.

Draco was looking at him with soft grey eyes full of understanding and concern. Tentatively the blond reached for Harry's face and cupped his cheek. His voice was low when he enunciated what he really thought of Harry.

"I can't understand how you did it, Harry. In the face of mortal danger, you still acted following your heart, and I mean your conscience – not killing sense. I know you did it based on pure impulse, but if righteous impulse does exist, then that was it. You have things you want to protect, and that protective feeling was what determined your moves. As a real Slytherin, I much prefer expedient things. If I were you, I wouldn't try to kill that man, only because I knew what trouble it would cause me. I'd kill him only for self-defence, so as long as my life were not threatened, I'd let him do whatever he wanted and have somebody else dealing with him. But that was not what you chose to do, because you're not a Slytherin. Sacrificing your own feeling to do what you must do, at the right time and place: you are a wonderful hero, Harry."

Draco didn't know how to comfort Harry with that speech. He was just expressing his opinion about Harry, but he was honest within every second of it. Yes, he was extremely irritated and didn't feel sorry in the slightest for that lunatic who had destroyed his special day and tried to kill them. But he felt sorry for Harry. Harry was hurting with guilt and self-loathing, whereas Draco didn't think he ought to feel like that. The man might not be able to be defeated unless Harry used a significantly powerful spell, which most likely could be lethal.

"I…" Harry couldn't come out with another word. The rain hid the tears which streamed down Harry's cheeks, but Draco could sense his anguish without perceiving the tears. Draco pulled Harry into a tight and comforting embrace, and even though he didn't say anything else, his presence and acceptance had alleviated Harry's pain much better than any other remedy.

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Within the next few minutes the Aurors had arrived on that place. It turned out that they were preoccupied by an attack on another part of Hogsmeade at the time Harry and Draco were assaulted. Presently they were attending the Boy-Who-Lived and the immobilized Trolls. While some Aurors were inquiring him about the man he had just killed, Harry threw occasional glances towards Draco. The two boys were separated quite far, as Draco was never quite fond of Aurors, especially Mad-Eye Moody. Neither of them was injured except for some bruises and small cuts, though they were covered in dirt and soaked with the rain.

Draco creased his eyes shut and massaged his forehead with one hand on his hip. When he opened his eyes, he faced a pair of familiar eyes belonging to his cousin. Tonks's face was very close to his and their noses were practically touching. Congratulating himself for not jumping back in surprise, Draco drawled, "You mustn't kiss me here, Dora love. Harry might see it."

Tonks fondly whacked his head. "Much as I'd love to kiss you, I don't fancy some mud getting into my mouth."

Draco impulsively rubbed his lips to clean them before he replied haughtily, "You can always Scourgify your mouth afterwards. It's the blessing that counts."

"Right, insufferable brat. By the way, I came to check your condition. I'm glad you aren't injured, only very mucky. That man must be quite powerful, considering he could control Trolls and bring Dementors here."

'Absolutely powerful even without the Trolls and Dementors factor.' "Do you know who it was?"

"We have identified him as Gale Parkinson. He was Pansy's older brother."

Draco winced. Another Parkinson. "He wasn't a Death Eater."

"No, he wasn't. As far as we know, he was not an avid follower of You-Know-Who either. Merlin knows why he acted like a madman against Harry, and how he managed to steal Dementors."

"Do you think it had something to do with the abrogation of my engagement to Pansy? That man also probably had been brain-washed…" Draco stopped and turned as he heard his name being called. Ron and Hermione were rushing towards him, concern evident on their faces. But after taking a good look at Draco, Ron's expression changed.

The redhead guffawed, "Hahahaa! Look at you! Where have you been wallowing after we left you?" Hermione didn't laugh, but she didn't seem worried anymore having confirmed that Draco was really all right.

"Shut up, Weasel. Try next time to face some Trolls, a dozen Dementors, and a demented Dark Wizard all at once."

"Yeah, you look knackered. But I bet it was Harry who did most of the job."

"What do you know? You were burrowing in Hogwarts when it happened. Why are you here?"

Hermione explained that they heard about an attack in Hogsmeade and they were worried about Harry and Draco. "Those Aurors put us off from checking Harry. But from the look of it, he's fine." Draco assured them that Harry was all right. He wasn't even as dirty as Draco.

&xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&

The sky had turned dark for real; it was past 8 in the evening now and it was still raining. The Trolls and the man's corpse had been secured. Ron and Hermione had returned to Hogwarts with Tonks, leaving Draco and Harry who hadn't finished their business with the Aurors that moment. They also had to deal with the press who swarmed that place. They had known by now what tomorrow's headlines would be. After those seemingly endless issues were all over, Harry approached his fiancé who was standing under a tree with folded arms and gloomy expression.

"You okay?"

Draco shook his head dismally. "I feel like a newt." He indicated his drenched and muddy appearance.

Harry chuckled and lifted Draco's face by his chin. "A very sexy newt, it is. Honestly, you look even better wet and dirty."

Draco blushed and removed Harry's hand from his chin. "You have a gross taste, Potter. I hope you're kidding, because otherwise I'd be compelled to drown your pretty face into this mud for degrading me."

Harry only focused in one specific adjective. "You think I'm pretty?"

Draco resisted drowning his own face into the mud. He coughed to smother a groan and answered, "Please Harry, I don't understand what's wrong with you. Either you're trying to act cute, or you're actually rather slow. Or maybe your contacts need replacement. You always over-react whenever I mention anything good about your looks."

"I know I'm good-looking, and many people have said so," Harry said, ignoring the subsequent gagging noise from Draco. "But your opinion is what I value the most. I don't care what other people say as long as you like my looks. You're the only one for whom I want to appear the best."

Sighing, Draco patted Harry's shoulder. "I'm sorry to break your heart, Harry. I never meant it whenever I said you were pretty or adorable. Can't you distinguish real praise from irony?" He was startled when Harry suddenly cupped his cheeks and enquired with a serious face, "Seriously, Draco. Do you not think that I'm at least a bit attractive?"

'Merlin, this git has self-confidence crisis.' Pitying Harry, Draco decided to tell the truth. He replied slowly, "I'm not blind, Harry. And anyone who's not blind will agree that you're the best-looking guy in Great Britain, as what last week edition of Witch Weekly still crowned you of."

Harry grinned, self-confidence completely restored. Draco raised his hand and spread his muddy palm over Harry's cheek. "Even covered with mud, you can still convince everyone you're the Hogwarts Sex God," he added, feeling generous tonight.

Draco pulled back from Harry. "However, I'm not blessed with the same everlasting beauty. I hate mud." He took out his wand and was about to perform a charm to clean himself when Harry stopped him. Harry caressed the dirty pale face lovingly and his other hand gripped Draco's hip. The silver eyes met their emerald green counterparts, bashfulness apparent on both pairs but the emerald ones had passion overriding it. Oblivious to the two wet boys facing each other so close and personal, the rain kept pouring from the evening sky.

"You're so beautiful, Draco. Your looks before the attack were too gorgeous for words. I thought it would be impossible, but now…," Harry tangled his hand on Draco's wet tresses and brought their faces closer, "… like I said, you look even better dripping wet and dirty."

Harry kissed the platinum strands on his fingers. His lips sometimes strayed to the earlobe and temple. He heard Draco breathing hard, evidently feeling shy with their intimate contact. But Draco didn't push him away; instead he was clinging to Harry, as if he couldn't bear Harry leaving him. Neither of the boys was aware that they were currently exposed to public's eyes, but it wasn't important.

Draco never dreamt sharing his first date with Trolls and Dementors plus a demented Dark Wizard, nor ending up covered with muck after those strenuous 2-hour grooming. This was not the perfect date he wanted, but he wasn't entirely disappointed. That Charmed Butterbeer parade was the best. Having Harry kissing his hair under the rain was somehow sensually romantic. A muddy Harry Potter was astonishingly gorgeous, with raindrops trickling from his black fringe and along his handsome face. In this first date of his life, Draco Malfoy was happy.

TBC

-- Hmm... no kissing yet.

-- And psst, GY, it's called... foreshadowing :-)