Final chapter is here! I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, it's so nice and fluffy
I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 4
Harry felt like he was floating on could nine the rest of the weekend. Oliver had said that he would owl with details for their date and Harry spent the start of the week eagerly awaiting his letter.
He felt his heart flutter as Oliver's owl flew in through his open window on Wednesday morning, just as he was sitting down for some breakfast.
Harry impatiently ripped the envelope open.
Dear Harry,
I hope you're well.
I will pick you up on Saturday evening at 6pm for our date.
Please, wear something warm.
I can't wait to see you,
Oliver.
Harry's heart fluttered; it had been a long time since he had been on a first date. Logically he knew that Oliver knew him and obviously liked him, hence why he asked him out, but Harry still wanted the date to go well. He was glad Oliver had given instructions on what to wear, one less thing to worry about.
He apparated to work and spent most of the morning in a daze, even managing to bump into Sue Li three times as he moved around the office. Eventually, his boss had sent him home to work for the rest of the day, in the vain hope of avoiding any more injuries.
Harry was supposed to be cooking dinner for Ron and Hermione but was smart enough to know not to go near the kitchen when he was so distracted, so he ended up ordering in pizza just before the married couple were due to arrive.
Harry placed the pizzas out on the table with some plates and cups just as the floo flared and Ron and Hermione walked out.
Hermione greeted him with her usual hug and Ron a pat on the back.
"Pizza, Harry? I thought you wanted to try that new chicken dish you read about?"
Harry looked sheepish.
"Yeah, I didn't feel quite up for it tonight."
Hermione gazed at him intently.
"You're nervous for your date with Oliver" the brunette said matter of factly.
Harry sighed, there was no point trying to keep anything from Hermione.
"I- I just want it to go well."
Hermione gave him a small smile. "It will Harry. Oliver is crazy about you, honestly you could throw up on his shoes five minutes in and he would probably still call it the best date of his life."
Harry flushed at her words.
"He would not." He mumbled. "He's a world famous quidditch player, travelled all over the world, probably dated a lot more amazing people then me."
Ron scoffed at that. "Impossible, Harry, there is no one – aside from Hermione – as amazing as you and Oliver knows it. I may have heard from George that Oliver hasn't dated anyone since that first night at George and Angelina's months ago."
Harry stared wide eyed at his best friend. "Really?"
Ron grinned broadly. "Yep! Apparently, he was hooked as soon as those green eyes sparkled at him."
Harry gaped and Hermione struggled to hide a smile behind her hand.
"It'll be fine Harry" Ron said with another pat on the back, "now come on, it's pizza time!"
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It was Friday night and Harry was just leaving work. It had been a long but productive day and he couldn't help but feel light-hearted. He had only taken a few steps out of the Daily Prophet's front doors when he heard a familiar voice calling his name.
Harry slowly turned, feeling dread and anxiety settle in his stomach. Draco.
Draco was standing before him, a tight smile on his face.
"Harry" he began awkwardly, "it's good to see you."
Harry didn't know what to say to that, so he didn't say anything at all. Simply stood staring at the blonde before him, the person he thought he would spend his life with.
"I – I know you don't want to see me or talk to me; you've made that abundantly clear…"
"Then why are you hear?" Harry asked with a frown.
Draco ran his hand through his hair nervously. "I, I just heard that you are going on a date with Oliver Wood, and I needed to try one more time…"
Draco looked at him, so desperate and so hopeful that Harry felt something awful twist in his stomach.
No matter what Draco had done, he didn't relish in causing the other man pain.
Harry took a deep breath and pushed aside his anger, surprised to find that it had mostly dissipated in the time they had been apart.
"Draco, there is absolutely no chance that we will ever get back together" Harry said carefully.
Draco's face twisted in sadness.
"But I love you Harry, I promise that I will never hurt you again!" Draco said desperately, reaching out to grip Harry's hand.
Harry reached out and gripped the others shoulder gently, trying to offer what comfort he could.
"A part of me will always love you Draco, but the trust is gone between us and without trust we have nothing. One day you will find someone else, who you will love more than you ever dreamed of loving me."
Draco just shook his head in denial.
"I know it might not seem like it now, but you will."
"I – I knew it was a long shot, but I had to try."
Harry nodded in understanding.
"I'm glad we talked" Harry said honestly. "We couldn't have avoided each other forever, as much as I may have wanted to" Harry said with a wry grin.
"I am sorry, Harry" Draco whispered, grey eyes staring intently into green.
"I know... Goodbye Draco."
With that Harry walked to the apparition point to head home, feeling as though a weight he didn't even know he was carrying, had been lifted.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
Saturday rolled around and Harry spent most of the day out flying to take his mind off his date later that night. He had already picked out his outfit, he didn't want to have to panic about that later and was now counting down the hours until it was time.
At 5 o'clock he jumped in the shower and then started getting ready. Putting on snug black jeans and a dark blue jacket with a plain white shirt underneath. He didn't know how formal this was going to be, so he decided to dress somewhere in the middle. Not super fancy but more then if he was just hanging out at home. He rubbed some product through his hair just to make it looked not quite so messy, before he deemed himself ready.
He nervously paced around his home, straightening things that didn't need to be straightened. After his third lap he felt his wards shift and there was a knock at the door.
He took a deep breath and slowly made his way to the door, trying to not look like he had been waiting near it for the last 20 minutes.
Harry felt all the breath rush out of his lungs as the door swung open and he saw Oliver, he looked as gorgeous as ever, with a large bunch of flowers in his hands, bright yellow daffodils.
They stared at each other for a moment, both enjoying the sight, before Harry jolted to his senses.
"O-Oliver, welcome" he stammered, cursing himself. "Come in." He pulled back the door and stepped to the side allowing Oliver to enter.
"Harry, you look gorgeous" Oliver said as he lent in and gave Harry a quick kiss on the cheek and handed him the bunch of flowers.
Harry felt himself flush bright red, "you look handsome as well" Harry said quietly, placing the flowers in a vase in the kitchen.
Oliver grinned, holding out his hand for Harry to take.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yep, let's go" Harry said with a smile, leading Oliver out the door and past the wards so that they could apparate.
Oliver pulled Harry in close, his arm wrapping snugly around Harry's waist.
"I will side-a-long you, as it's a surprise where we're going."
Harry took a deep breath and nodded, and, in a whirl, they were gone. They landed with a thud and Harry was grateful for Oliver's support when he stumbled upon landing.
Harry took a moment to orient himself and when he did his eyes widened in surprise.
He was standing in what looked like a jungle, but there were lanterns hanging all over the place lighting up the whole area in a soft soothing glow.
"Where are we?" Harry whispered in awe.
"This is London zoo, the magical section" Oliver said with a big smile, seeing how delighted Harry was already.
"There's a magical section at London zoo? I didn't know that!"
"There sure is, I thought you may not have been here before. One of the keepers is a big Puddlemere United fan so I have arranged for a private tour of the zoo."
"A private tour, so we have the whole place to ourselves?"
"We sure do" Oliver said with a soft smile. "Just us and the keeper."
Harry felt his heart pounding in his chest, he couldn't have imagined a more perfect date.
"Wow Oliver, that-that's incredible."
"I just wanted tonight to be perfect, you deserve nothing less" Oliver said gently, picking Harry's hand up and placing a small kiss on his knuckles.
Harry just stared at the man in front of him, who knew Oliver Wood could be so romantic!
"Would you mind if I put my arm around you for the tour, Harry?" Oliver asked.
Harry shook his head. "I would like that" he said, moving in closer to Oliver who wrapped his arm around Harry's waist again and pulled him into his side.
They heard a throat clearing behind them and turned to find a middle-aged man waiting, a bright grin on his face.
"Welcome, you must be Harry" the man said, holding out his hand for Harry to shake, Oliver I already know.
"I'm Wesley and I will be the one giving the tour tonight."
"We shall start here, at our Thunderbird, Fate."
Harry looked around for a cage or some kind of enclosure but found nothing. Confused he glanced at Oliver.
"There are no cages or anything of the like here, our animals live in magical sanctuaries that have extension charms on them, making them as large as the creatures natural habitat. The viewing area of each enclosure moves to where the creature is at any one time in their habitat so that people can view them at any time. It in no way impacts on the creature, they aren't even aware most of the time that they are being watched."
As Harry and Oliver stepped closer to the small sign that said Thunderbird and gave some details about the species, the trees in front of Harry shifted and he now found himself staring out at a large plane. A huge white bird soaring through the sky over the area. Harry gasped at the sight, it was incredible!
He was stunned into silence for several long moments, to entranced with watching the creature before him to really pay attention to anything else.
"Wow" was all he managed to get out, Oliver let out a small chuckle beside him.
"Impressive, isn't it."
"Very" Harry agreed.
They moved on the next enclosure. Wesley gave them a small spiel about each animal then moved to the side so that they could take it in. Oliver spent most of the night talking quietly into Harry's ear and Harry had to supress a shudder every time the older mans lips brushed against him.
Oliver was so smooth, it made Harry feel completely inadequate, like a bumbling idiot next to the other. Thankfully he had known Oliver for so long that he felt quite comfortable in the other man's presence, even if he did wonder what the other was even doing with him.
They finished the tour with Harry proclaiming that the Occamy had been his favourite, while Oliver thought the dragon had been the best.
Wesley made himself scare while Oliver led Harry to a large picnic rug, covered in blankets, pillows and a variety of food.
"Dinner is served" Oliver said with a small bow and Harry grinned as he plopped down on some comfortable looking pillows.
"This is honestly amazing Oliver, thank you" Harry said shyly, looking around at all the food set out for them.
Oliver took a deep breath and brought Harry's face up to look at him.
"I know you and Draco haven't been broken up for very long, but I really like you Harry and I could see this turning in to something serious. At least that's what I'm hoping for." Now it was Oliver's turn to look shy, Harry found the expression very endearing.
"I-I could see this becoming something serious as well, Oliver." Harry said back and grinned at the look of relief that flashed across Oliver's face.
He took a breath, not wanting to spoil the moment, but he knew he had to be honest.
He looked down and fiddled nervously with his fingers while he spoke.
"I'm a little nervous that I won't be enough for you."
Oliver looked honestly shocked.
"What!?"
"It's just, you're this confident, charismatic, famous quidditch player. You could have anyone you wanted, I'm not really sure why you would want me" Harry said with a small shrug.
Oliver just stared at him in open surprise for several moments, before a soft look came on to his face. He pulled Harry in close, burying his face in dark locks.
"You don't see yourself at others see you Harry. You were like that even when we were in school together. You are smart and strong, brave and funny. You make every room brighter just by being in it and if you weren't so oblivious you would have noticed that half of the British wizarding community has been making calf eyes at you since you became single."
Now it was Harry's turn to look surprised.
"No, they haven't."
"I assure you; they have. You may not see yourself clearly Harry, but I see all of you."
Unsure of what to say to that Harry just nodded, looking dumbfounded.
Oliver leant in and brushed his lips gently against Harry's, a promise for what the future would hold.
