Annnnnd many moons later I have returned. It was hard going for a while due to I was mainly working from a tablet. And what with corona floating around I have added teaching to my resume. Lovely. Now though I have a computer and I am eager to continue my story. Let it proceed, and hopefully not suck. And attach disclaimer here that I do not own Harry Potter, I just imagine the characters doing things I would like them to do.
Lunch time was looming nearer. Draco had been separated from his group due to him being a Slytherin. Some of the other seventh year students admired Draco from afar as he made his way into Potions class. Professor Slughorn had decided to stay on and teach and was delighted to be teaching the young Malfoy once again. A group of Hufflepuffs weren't as thrilled to see Draco in their class but Draco ignored them.
It was like starting seventh year over from scratch. The class began almost the same way with the students learning to prepare a drought of the living dead. Draco worked quickly and quietly, having already made this potion before he let his mind wander onto more important things.
Harry.
Their lunch date would be interesting to say the least. Draco already knew how to get food from the kitchens, having "snuck" in there before. The house elves would be more than happy to give him food if he mentioned it was for Harry.
Taking Harry to the most perfect of places inside Hogwarts would be another thing altogether. Having barely returned to school, Draco had not had time to visit his most favorite of places, the Room of Requirement.
Draco had to keep himself from visibly wincing. Some of the room's memories were difficult to swallow, but in the times where Draco just needed a quiet place to escape he would turn it into something magical, which is where he wanted to take Harry. It would be private no doubt, but it would be special too.
There was a moment of hesitation in the thought. The Room of Requirement may not even work anymore considering the fiend fire. Draco bit his lip. There was really only one way to find out.
Draco raised his hand, getting Professor Slughorn's attention. "Yes, Malfoy?"
"I'm not feeling well, professor. I've finished my potion though, so may I be excused?" Draco hoped Slughorn wouldn't look too closely into Draco's obvious lie.
"Very well, off with you. This looks quite promising." Slughorn muttered as he looked at Draco's drought of living dead. To be sure it was nearly perfect.
Draco snatched up his bag and made his way out of the dungeon classroom.
Walking as quickly as possible Draco made his way up to the seventh floor corridor. Stepping into place in front of a familiar blank wall Draco shut his eyes and began to pace back and forth.
His one thought was "Please work, I need the place to rest, the place to bring Harry to for a date"
Three turns later Draco paused in front of the wall, eyes still shut tight. Almost as if dreading the answer from the room Draco took a deep breath and opened his eyes.
With a sigh of relief Draco faced an ornately carved door. It was arched, and made of thick oak. The carvings were floral, but like most things in the castle it was magical. The very flowers and vines, leaves, and branches on the door moved effortlessly as though a breeze were brushing past real fauna in the wild.
Pushing open the door and peering inside Draco could see the Room of Requirement was in fine working order. Or rather this room of the many required rooms was working just fine. A bright smile played on the blondes face before he shut the door and ran off to the kitchens.
Harry was not focusing at all on charms. It was one of his better subjects and he just could not focus.
Hermione was diligently taking notes. Having missed seventh year she was determined to make up for lost time.
And Ron, well he was trying his best to take his own notes. Granted he knew he could get them later from Hermione, but this year he wanted to prove he could be a bit more responsible for himself in her eyes.
Harry's mind drifted to Draco. Their lunch date. He had been on a few dates before. Cho Chang not being a good example of a date. That was more of a flood than a date. With GInny, well their outings on the Hogwarts grounds could be considered dates, right?
It's lunch. It's lunch. It's. Lunch. It's lunch with Draco Malfoy.
Over and over those words played in Harry's mind.
Without realizing it a lazy smile spread on Harry's face.
Hermione, being a multitasker shifted her gaze to Ron then to Harry to see how their note taking was going.
Shockingly Ron was keeping up, and she saw very few things to correct him on, but when her eyes went to Harry she readied herself to chastise him.
Then she saw the smile on Harry's face.
Hermione shook her head and let Harry be. Those small moments of happiness were rare for Harry, and though their education was important the bushy haired girl decided to leave him be. She would reprimand him later and share her notes with him.
"That shall be all for today's students. Remember, two parchments on the subject of simple healing charms" Professor Flitwick dismissed the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws.
"I don't know how you do it Hermione," Ron said, gathering up his notes, "My hand is cramping from writing down so much. You wrote twice as much as I did and you seem fine."
"Years of practice and diligence." Hermione responded.
"So, you two head on down to lunch, I left something back in my room. I'll see you later in potions." Harry quickly dismissed himself while the other two were talking. He nearly dissaperated with how fast he had flown from the classroom.
"I have a feeling he didn't forget anything." Ron mumbled.
"I have that same feeling, but let him do whatever it is he needs to. We'll learn about it later when he wants to tell us." Hermione ushered Rron into the corridor and down the stairs to the Great Hall.
Draco was leaning up against the wall of their dormitory. He was calm looking and straight faced. Harry had peaked around a corner to see if the blonde had shown up first, and he had. Which gave Harry ample time to just admire from afar. No one was around seeing as all the students would be heading down to lunch so Harry nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard Draco speak from the end of the hallway.
"Are you going to stand there all day, Potter? Or can we get going? I don't know about you but I'm hungry and ready to get things discussed." Draco had seen a dark messy head peering at him from a distance out the corner of his eyes.
Harry flushed at being caught, then made his way to Draco. "Sorry, yes. We can get going. Where is it that you're taking me?"
Draco smiled like someone with a juicy secret. "You'll see."
With a slight hesitation Draco put his hand out for Harry to take. It brought back a memory of the time Draco had first given Harry his hand to shake. Harry hadn't taken it then, but this time with no skepticism he did.
Hand in hand the boys walked up to the seventh floor in silence.
But it wasn't awkward. It was oddly comfortable.
Harry didn't mind one bit being dragged around, he thought it was sort of cute with how eager Draco was to get wherever it was -
"The Room of Requirement?" Harry asked when Draco finally stopped and let his hand go.
"You'll see." Draco smiled even bigger seeing Harry looking confused.
Draco paced back and forth in front of the wall while Harry watched. It was clear the blonde boy had been planning what it was he wanted from the room because on his last turn a door had appeared.
Harry took a step toward it in fascination. It was truly a carved marvel.
"I can't believe the room still works," Harry said, touching a carved lavender branch that had swayed to his outstretched hand.
"As amazing as the door is, we're not eating lunch in the hall." Draco interrupted and moved past Harry to open the door. "There's plenty to stare at inside too."
Harry chuckled and walked into the newly there room. Draco stepped in and shut the door behind them.
Harry had only been into a building like this once. Or rather a dozen times or so. But also not.
The walls were high and pristine. The ceiling was domed and the connecting curvatures were decorated with live plants. Vines of all sorts with flowers hung down from high. Light had somehow entered the room because it was bright but not to. The columns supporting the ceiling were decorated with just as many vines and flowers, and here and there were scattered grapes. How? Harry had no idea.
In the middle of the room was a table and leather back chairs. It was certainly the fanciest lunch Harry would ever have. On the table sat their lunch, accompanied by Harry's favorite dessert, treacle tart.
"This is… incredible. You planned for all this?" Harry said, astonishment in his voice.
Draco shrugged. "Had some help from the kitchen elves." Draco stuck his hand out in a gesture to Harry for him to sit.
Harry smiled and took a seat, moving it slightly so he could face Draco a little better.
"I came here a lot last year just to get away." Draco said, his voice trailing off.
"I don't blame you, this place is amazing." Harry said looking up and trying to figure out what some of the fragrant flowers were.
"I'm glad you like it. I hoped you would."
"Perfect place to have lunch." Harry poured himself and Draco some of the provided pumpkin juice.
"Perfect place to have a talk too." Draco said, staring at his cup that was placed in front of him.
"What do you want to talk about first?" Harry asked, taking a bite of his sandwich.
"The Weasley." Draco said abruptly.
"I know that was a very short sort of apology earlier. I meant every word though. Ginny and I are done. We have been done for a while now. When she cornered me earlier she thought we could continue where we left off but my heart wasn't in it. It's somewhere else. With someone else." Harry said, trying hard not to be frustrated.
"She must be very upset. Having lost you." Draco mumbled, a slight blush showing on his pale skin.
"She'll get over it sooner or later." Harry said, smiling.
"Alright." Draco nodded slowly to signify he understood. Merlin, he hoped the Weasley bitch wouldn't stir up any trouble for him and Harry later on down the line.
"Onto another subject…" Harry said, contemplating whether he should bring it up "what do we tell people? Do we tell people? How do you feel about telling people?"
Draco was nibbling on the edge of his own sandwich. He honestly had taken some time during the day to think over what exactly it was he wanted. He also considered what Harry may want. It wasn't just him that he had to think of anymore. This made Draco smile a little. He wasn't alone anymore.
"I don't mind telling others. A few friends is fine to start. I know you have Hermione and the Weasley that are around all the time, and we all live together so they're bound to find out on their own eventually." Draco took a bigger bite of his sandwich. "I'll probably just tell Blaise to start with. He won't care either way."
"Alright then." Harry nodded. Then he gave nothing else away so the blonde prompted him with a small foot nudge. "What?"
"What is it that you want?" Draco asked a little more demanding than he meant to sound.
To be honest, Harry hadn't thought about it much. He spent so much time thinking of others, and what others thought and felt it was hard for him to think much of himself.
"I want…" Harry stopped and thought.
Cliffhangers are meeeeeean. Sorry. Until the next update. :)