Draco took one of the calzones and slipped it onto a platter. Harry took the other and slid it onto a second platter on the counter.
"Ready?" Draco smiled.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Harry sighed.
"Dinner is served," Draco announced as he and Harry set the platters on the table.
The three from the sitting room soon joined and sat with their relative and his partner. Dinner was eaten in relative silence. Tense silence. As Harry cleared the dishes, Dudley offered to help wash up. Harry gave him a calculating look before nodding and leading him into the kitchen. Harry started filling the sink with warm water.
As he squirted some dishsoap into the steam of water, Dudley grinned, "I'll wash. You know where everything goes."
Harry stared at him. He must have been immagining things. Had Dudley acually grinned at him? Not a derisive grin, but a true, honest-to-God grin? ...No. Couldn't be. But there it was again. That weird behavior. That grin.
"Er... Who are you, and what have you done with my cousin?"
And then it happened. Dudley grinned again. And laughed. Not his usual cruel laugh that meant a trouble was coming, but a real amused laugh. What was the world coming to?
"Harry, I never really hated you, you know."
"Sure put on a damn good act."
"Had to. Mum would've had a cow if was actually nice to 'the freak', you know?"
Harry stared at him a moment, then nodded. As they started washing the dishes, Harry asked, "So, you've been working out, huh? You've kicked the weight."
Dudley laughed again. "No. I was never really fat."
"So, what was it, a fat suit?"
"No. It was glamour," Dudley explained as he put a plate in the drain. "All my summer 'remedial' classes? They were really magic crash courses. Basically everything you learned in a year, I learned in three months."
"Wow. So, you're really one of us?"
"Yeah."
"Does Petunia know?"
"Not yet. I'm not sure I'm going to tell her or not."
"I assume Uncle Vernon does know, though?"
"Yeah. He's the one who noticed." Dudley placed the handful of silverware in the drain. "Well, that's about it."
Harry handed his towel to his cousin to dry his hands. "It's good to actually know you, Dudley."
Harry offered his right hand, and Dudley grasped it, "You, too, Harry. You too."
The two strolled into the sitting room together only to see Draco and Vernon chattimg amicably.
"Da, where's mum?"
"She went home. Migraine, she claims." Dudley quirked an eyebrow. "We should probably head back too. Dinner was wonderful, Harry."
"Thank you."
Draco and Harry led Vernon and Dudley to the door. As Dudley stepped onto the porch, he turned back around. "Harry, if you need anything, let me know. And don't even think about running off for an adventure without me." He grinned and patted Harry's shoulder before leaving.
Harry closed the door and collapsed on the sofa. Draco perched on the sofa's arm and ran his fingers through Harry's hair. They sat in silence and soon Harry's peaceful snores drifted softly through the air. Draco smiled to himself as he cradled his boyfriend in his arms and carried him upstairs to bed.
A/N:A short one, I know.And for those of you who didn't get it with chapter Two. Yes, Harry and Draco used to date. Hence the "I still love you". And all the 'How could I have let him go?' and the "Don't push me away this time." Anywhen, that's it, thought I should explain. Cheers!
