The bell rang and Harry stood up from his seat. He stretched and let out a yawn. He really hadn't missed Slughorn's sleep-inducing lessons but alas he was finally free. Then he remembered what he was going to have to face today and faltered midway through stretching.He slumped in on himself and started trotting towards the great hall to find Draco.
Draco had been skipping the lessons this day, because of his low mood. He didn't really care for the subjects anyway, his grades and attendance were exceptional.
The blond had spent the day in the library, reading about various topics and soaking in the smell of wooden floors and paper. The calm and dark surrounding calmed and comforted him.
Draco put the book he'd just finished skimming over, onto an already growing pile. His head shot up when he duley heard the sound of a bell rang, signaling the end of today's lessons. Suddenly it seemed as if his calmness had been swept away by the very same gong. He stood up and slowly put his books back into their respective shelves. After finishing the task, he looked around to find something else to delay his inevitable confrontation with Harry's tempting eyes and lips - he thought back to the one time that he gotten weak, that he'd just been so desperate for something, anything, that he had selfishly used the room of requirements and a lookalike of his crush to act out his fantasy.
He'd felt horrible afterwards. He hadn't even been able to look Harry in the eyes for a few days. (Not that he was very good at that anyway.) Draco sighed and finally decided to stop stalling when the door to the library opened and Harry stood in the entrance.
Somehow, it felt like a magical moment. The sun was shining through the hallway and hit Harry's side profile. His pale skin seemed to glow and he brought light into the previously dim library. Draco blinked to remove what seemed to have obviously been caused by some heart shaped lenses over his eyes but the image stayed the same.
Behind him he heard one of the students whisper: "Mate, I swear I just saw him walking in slow motion, what the actual Hogwarts?"
Harry chuckled when he heard the comment, actually he had Hermione help him out with a minor beauty spell which apparently didn't do anything except "enhance your natural beauty in the eyes of the beholder." He wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean but he guessed that it couldn't do any harm.
Draco gulped, he wasn't sure what had happened within that short time that he hadn't seen Harry, but he somehow looked really refreshed and happy, Draco wondered whether or not maybe - just maybe Harry was a bit excited for their date too.
Yes, Draco had secretly dubbed it a date, after all they would be spending time together and possibly have dinner afterwards if they didn't finish in time. Honestly there was nothing more that the blond wanted, that not being able to finish the assignment in time, of course he wasn't aware that Harry thought the exact same thing and was just as, if not more excited about spending time with him.
After exchanging a few perfunctory pleasantries, the two of them left Hogwarts. In the corner of his eye, Harry caught Hermione giving him a thumbs up and then they were gone.
The air was quite chilly and Harry regretted not bringing a coat - he had wanted to, but the girls said that it was destroying the look he was apparently "going for". Whatever that meant, he had to admit that the tight black pants and fluffy maroon sweater were very nice.
Draco looked at the raven haired almost in a trance. Harry was practically drowning in a big sweater and only a black mop of curly hair and the slightly pink tip of his nose were visible. Draco almost audibly cooed at the other's cuteness, he reminded him of some small, lovable animal.
When the carriage arrived, Draco offered Harry his arm and Harry took it without hesitation. After Harry had stepped inside of it, the both of them froze for a second. How had the movement felt so natural and practiced? The both of them blushed for a bit, the Draco gathered his thoughts and stepped into the carriage as well.
The inside of the magical transport was warm and honey, but with two basically adult men inside, it seemed to be a bit cramped. Harry tried glossing over his nervousness, but within the confined space, there was no way to avoid Draco's presence. The blond was looking out of the window but his legs were touching Harrys, and ever so slightly, whenever the carriage would hit a bump, they brushed past his.
While Harry was struggling in denial of not wanting to interpret too much, Malfoy was indeed, being very purposeful with his actions. He had realized that Harry was nervous. At this point his thoughts were steering into a hopeful direction, maybe he did have a chance, if Harry saw this as a normal activity, he surely wouldn't dress up as much right? If there was any chance to woo the boy who lived, Draco decided that he would take it. He felt that he had waited long enough, if he was going to be rejected, he would be heartbroken, of course but at least he would have confirmation.
At least he would have been brave and followed his own ambitions for once.
While Draco was mulling over his own thoughts, the carriage pulled up to its destination.