Chapter 3

Poor Ron. He had seen Harry and Draco so close to each other, their faces so red and tense, the only explanation he had had for that was a fight. Ron tried to not hold grudges after the war, mostly for Hermione, but that scene had obviously been too much. He had budged himself between the two ex-rivals and punched Draco in the face, hitting just on his left cheekbone.

- What the fuck Weasly?

Draco cried, hand reaching his cheek and trying to hide his teary eyes.

- Get the fuck away from Harry, you little ferret.

His face had gotten the same colour as his hair.

- Shit, you're a nasty piece of work.

Draco mumbled as he checked himself for blood. Harry turned to look at Ron;

- He wasn't doing anything Ron.

- Get your friends sorted Potter…

- Shut up Malfoy. You ok Harry?... Did he do anything to you?

Draco shoved through the pair of them, heading towards the courtyard, trying not to run.

- Ron! You can't budge in to every conversation I'm having and punch the other person. We're 8thyears, I can fight my own fights!

Harry shouted, as he looked over Ron's shoulder, a glimpse of platinum hair turning the corner.

- Don't shout at me! You're the one that had all that stuff yesterday, and now you're butting heads with the Ferret? Of course, I was worried…

- Ron… Can we talk later? I know you meant well, but I can't fight this out right now.

- But Harry…

- I'll see you later mate!

Harry shouted over his shoulder as he ran ahead.

- Could you have sauntered away any slower? It was a pain to catch up.

Harry said, a little out of breath.

- Fuck off

- You know, I am actually sorry. I didn't mean this to happen.

- Yeah thanks, I'm sure that apology will make the swelling go down.

- That's also why I came after you, dingus.

Harry reaches up to take Draco's hand away from his face, their pinky fingers touch in the process just as their eyes meet. It was like a magnet again. Neither of them could move it seemed. After what felt like an eternity, Draco let his hand drop. Harry flinched, as if he had been far away. He moved his hand over the bruise, a hair away from Draco's skin, and whispered a healing spell.

- Didn't know you were a mediwizard.

Draco said softly, as he left out a sigh.

- I'm not. – Harry shrugged - Just had to travel alone for a bit last year. Basic survival techniques I guess.

- Oh… of course.

They continued to walk in silence, reaching a stone bench in a corner of the courtyard. Half in the sun and half in the shade. Draco chose the sunny side, which Harry didn't know why, but it surprised him. He got lost in the moment, letting memories wash over him, occasionally stealing a glance at Draco, who had his eyes closed and was facing the sun, as if it was what healed him more than Harry. He hears some guitar strumming, and then a student trying out some new chords.

- It's been a while since I heard a guitar being butchered that badly.

After a pause Draco said, eyes still closed.

- So mediwizard AND music connoisseur?

Harry laughed that laugh where you only let air out of your nose but you don't actually laugh.

- I am a man of many charms you see.

- Really, you shouldn't try, you were never very good at being a show off.

Harry laughed in earnest this time.

- "My father will hear about this!"

A very bad attempt at first year Draco.

- Yeah… he won't anymore…

Draco opened his eyes, and lowered his head to look at his hands, laying open on his thighs. Harry cursed himself internally for that one.

- I actually play guitar. One of the few things I still enjoy.

- You're kidding.

Draco said looking up.

- No actually, one of the hobbies my cousin took up and got bored of in two days. Typical of him really, but I found the guitar and hid it before my aunt and uncle threw it away. Had to practice when there was no one around though, so I made slow progress.

Draco's eyes widened.

- How come you've never played in the castle?

- Well, I was shit at the start, so I didn't want anyone actually listening. I practice on the other side of the lake, there's this little patch of rocks. In winter, it's dry enough and in summer, I can dip my feet in the water. I don't think anybody else knows about it except Ron and Hermione.

The sun had moved a bit, making half of Harry's face light up too. He had done the same as Draco before, eyes closed and facing the sun while he had explained about his hidden musical skills.

- I was kind of rusty after last year. Not really optimal, taking a guitar when you have to be secret camping. But I practiced extra hard this summer.

Harry let out a small sigh, and tilted his head towards his shoulder. Opened one eye and grinned.

- Maybe I could prove that I'm not lying?

- You never lie Harry, you got it written on your hand.

- I was inviting you to my practicing spot, dingus.

So, Harry knew guitar, basic healing wandless spells and was an omega… He always thought he had Harry figured out and then BAM. He always had something else hiding in his pocket.

- I don't think you'd want me in your secret masturbation spot.

- WHAT?

Harry's eyes were as big as saucers, and he had actually turned to look at him in full. Draco could also see a bit of a blush creeping up his neck.

- Well… a place no students go, nobody sees you, and you play your musicand strum your guitar. You have to admit it does sound like a secret naughty spot.

Draco was fighting the smirk that was trying to surface, but Harry's face was just too good. Oh, but now he was smirking.

- I mean, you could always be my strumming partner. Last night already showed us what kind of music we make.

Oh no, he wasn't supposed to bring up last night. That was not good. Draco could feel heat rising up his face, and Malfoys weren't cute blushers.

- About that actually… Last night I mean. You said we could be friends, or I guess maybe we should start with a kind of not hating each other thing.

Could he seem like more of a little embarrassed 2ndyear confessing?

- I never hated you Draco.

- What?

- Well, except that time you ratted us out about a dragon in first year. And that time you dressed up as dementors. Oh! And-

- WELL – Draco interjected- You don't have a clean slate either do you wonder boy?

Harry stopped laughing and looked at him in earnest. The most real smile Draco had ever seen on his face. The kind of smile at your best friend's wedding, or the kind of smile when you find old pictures you didn't know existed. The "I have something warm in my heart" smile.

He looked at his lips, they were just as they were in the alcove, near, and warm, and... What? Harry had stopped smiling, they were inching closer again, he was looking at his lips too, eyes half closed already. Their shoulders touched, but neither moved away. No, wait, friends!

- Harry…

Draco whispered, wrenching the word from his throat.

- Hmm?

- I think we should actually try being friends.

Harry snapped out of it first.

- Oh! Right, of course. Yeah…

Why was his heart beating so hard? Last night was pheromones talking. Maybe there was some sort of residual stuff? Why was Harry looking so confused and sad at the same time? Draco snapped out of it too.

- I would really enjoy visiting your spicy and silent strumming spot.

Harry had recovered completely now, smiling again.

- We can arrange it then, but no funny last night business. It's only for music.

- If you say so Harry.

- Then we can go this Friday, Draco.