Over the next couple of weeks, Harry met Draco on a weekly basis. They walked in parks, discussed their opinions of the Ministry, and just did what any other pair of friends do. One Saturday Draco had brought up the idea of going flying. It had been a while for both of them and the weather was great lately. Harry agreed it would be fun but he couldn't think of anywhere open enough for them. Just as Harry walked with Draco to an apparition point, the other man spoke up, mentioning that there was a large area behind his house that was perfect for the occasion.
So that's where Harry was heading to now.
He gripped his old Firebolt and apparated as soon as he left his house before anyone could spot him. He landed just outside the gate and was greeted by the tall blond. Harry smiled in greeting as Draco lead them around the side of the Manor to a large open field, several large boulders adorning the grassy field. There was a light breeze but nothing that would interfere with their flying.
They mounted their brooms and shot up into the air. Harry laughed excitedly as he felt the wind whip around his face. He decided to keep his clothing and hair simple today. His long dark hair was tied up in low ponytail and he wore a simple t-shirt with dark jeans and grey trainers.
He looked over smiled back as he saw Draco. It had taken him some getting used to, but Harry had soon come to love the way Draco's lips would stretch into a true smile that reached his eyes. He was sure neither of them saw much of that expression when they were in school.
They flew lazily about for a while, doing loops, practicing feints, or just hovering high up in the air.
Harry drifted over to Draco as they hovered about a hundred feet from the ground. "Care for a quick game of catching the snitch?" He reached into his jean pocket, gripping the golden snitch between his fingers.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Sure, but I don't ha-Of course you would have a snitch in your pocket. It better not be one of your charmed ones." He eyed the golden object suspiciously.
Harry had revealed his slight obsession with snitches to Draco a week or so back. He joked it was because he was having withdrawal symptoms of not being able to play for so long, let alone fly. Harry shook his head in response and tossed the object into the air, watching it flit across them and disappear into the clouds.
The two raced after the snitch, lightly bumping into each other to throw the other off. After all, there were no Bludgers here to look out for.
"How about a wager, Malfoy? Make this more interesting." Harry shouted playfully out while keeping an eye out for that little glint of light.
"You're on, Black. What do you want?" Draco said back, not looking at him.
"If I win, I get to see your bedroom, I bet it's Slytherin green, just like the little Slytherin prince you are," he laughed. Harry knew he wanted more than just to prove to himself the room was typical of a Slytherin. Oh, he wanted so much more. That bit of attraction he admitted to the Malfoys during tea that fateful Sunday had grown to be a little more than a bit. Harry was falling for Draco and falling fast at that.
While looking for the snitch, Harry hadn't realized Draco had hovered so close to him. He nearly jumped off his broom when he heard a breathy, "Oh, is that all you want to do in my room?" Harry whipped around, a flush adorning his soft features. Draco simply smirked and backed off.
"And what do I get when I win?"
"If you win, my dear disillusioned Draco."
Harry heard a soft chuckling as he spotted a tiny glint, way to far up into the sky.
"What do I get, Lily?"
Harry hummed quietly, thinking over his options. "A kiss?" He flushed.
"I can get that anytime I wish, just need to catch you off guard. How about a secret? If I win, you, dearest Lily, will tell me something you've never told anyone else before. Something I don't already know." Draco's smirk seemed to widen as he spoke.
Harry huffed. "Fine," he said briefly before they both shot off towards the shiny object off to the left. Draco was much closer to the snitch but Harry was faster. The toes of their shoes were skimming along the tips of the long grass. Both reached out, barely able to touch the snitch when Draco did something that both won him the game and a nice comfy spot on top of Harry.
Harry gasped as he was tackled to the ground. Draco had jumped off his broom, lunging at the snitch and tackling Harry in the same go.
Draco panted softly above him, grinning the widest Harry had ever seen. "I win," he whispered before climbing off the prone body and holding out a hand to help Harry up.
Harry brushed the loose grass and dirt from his clothes and hair, untying his ponytail and letting the long dark hair cascade over his shoulders. "Alright, alright. That," he pointed a finger at the taller man. "was uncalled for, but fine. You win. What do you want to know?"
Draco shrugged, handing the snitch back to Harry. "You tell me. Think of a secret you've never told anyone, and when you've thought of that secret," he leaned forward. "Tell me." He smirked.
Harry glared, pocketing the snitch. He gathered his broom and propped it up against the side of the door as Draco led them into the house.
The two were greeted by Narcissa. She was sitting at a dark wooden table with Lucius to her right. Draco kissed his mother on the cheek and greeted his father before turning back to him. "This is Lily Black."
Harry looked over to the elder Malfoys, slightly wary, but executed his manners without a hitch. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for letting me into your lovely home." Harry's eyes narrowed minutely as he spotted Lucius try to cover a snort by sipping at his tea.
Narcissa stood and walked over to Harry, bending to give a kiss on each cheek. As she paused on each side of his face, Harry hissed lightly so only she would hear. "I hope you're not planning anything."
Narcissa responded by pulling back and smiling. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Ms. Black. Would you care to join us for some afternoon tea?" The look in her eyes frightened Harry, but he tried to hold his ground, but before he could decline, a voice deeper than Draco's sounded.
"Yes, come join us, Ms. Black. It's not very often we meet friends of Draco's." Lucius had an eery smirk on his face as he called a house elf to bring two more sets of cups and to refill the teapot sitting in the center of the table.
Harry looked to Draco, pleading him with his eyes to convince his parents to let him go, but he was having none of that. Harry received a halfhearted shrug and a pulled out chair across from Lucius. He glared slightly at the blond and was met with a tiny smirk emerging on those pale lips.
"So, Ms. Black, how long have you known Draco?" Narcissa asked, charming the pot to pour tea into the cups.
"Please, Lily is just fine, and I've known him for a while. We went to school together but only recently became friends about a month or so ago." Harry answered with a strained smile.
Lucius nodded, levitating the plate of sugar cubes towards him. "Sugar," he offered with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Harry threw a glare at the man before taking a hold of the dish and thanking him politely. Harry plopped one cube into his tea and placed one on his saucer. He turned to his right, offering the plate to Draco.
Draco shook his head, already drinking the dark, bitter tea. Harry placed the plate in front of him, looking back up to the parents. They had identical mischievous looks hiding under their polite features.
The four spoke mostly about his occupation and hobbies, thankfully not asking about family or anything that might be revealing. All the while, Harry had placed at least two cubes of sugar between his teeth, sucking at them when he wasn't talking. Draco had looked over at him questioningly when Harry placed a third cube of sugar on his saucer. Lucius looked to be torn between frowning and smirking knowingly.
Harry looked at Draco and sat up slightly in his chair, brushing a stray lock on hair behind his ear. "Sorry, habit," he mumbled, nervously fingering the small rings on the ear he just revealed.
The subject had moved onto whatever potion Draco was developing at St. Mungo's when Harry stuck the sugar cube into his mouth and Narcissa stood abruptly. The two blond men looked at her with mirror expressions before she spoke. "Seeing as Lily, here, owns a bookstore I thought perhaps she might be interested in some of the books in our library."
Harry opened his mouth to protest after he hastily swallowed the slurry of sugar granules and saliva. However, Narcissa was quicker and had already pulled him out into the hallway, up a flight of stairs and into a cozy library.
"Narcissa!" He hissed.
She tutted and waved her hand dismissively at him. "Oh, take that spell off, dear. It's really quite odd talking to you when you don't look like yourself."
Harry huffed and muttered the counters spell, waving his wand over his front. He then pointed his wand at the door, shooting several strong locking and silencing spells so neither of the Malfoy men could barge in when Harry wasn't ready.
Narcissa gestured for Harry to sit on a large chair off to the side. He took the seat, adjusting the shirt that now clung to his skin. His jeans were tight against his bottom and legs, but the shoes were still comfortable, a bit more snug than usual, but comfortable.
The Malfoy folded her hands neatly in her lap and looked Harry in the eye. "You're getting too close. Either tell him the truth, or back off until you're just friends again."
"What? What are you talking about? We are just friends."
"Don't play daft, Harry. It's unbecoming of you. You know well what I'm speaking of. I see the way he looks at you and the way his hand lingers on your shoulder or arm. I thought you promised us to be careful. Am I wrong?"
Harry hung his head. "No, ma'am," he lifted his head, biting the corner of his lip. "I was being careful! Those touches and looks...I thought they were just my imagination. Something fictional, made up by my mind because it's something I want, but can't have. Because," he trailed off, not sure what to say. "I think I've fallen for your son," he whispered. He started at the floor, not meeting Narcissa's gaze.
"You have to tell him," she said grimly.
"I can't! He'll hate me," he exclaimed, eyes shooting back to look into ice blue eyes.
"He'll hate you even more if you drag this along and he finds out on his own. You don't believe me when I tell you he has feelings for you? Feelings that go beyond a platonic desire?"
Harry furrowed his eyebrows and chewed on his lip harder.
"If you won't tell him, I will. I refuse to allow either of you to be hurt because of your desire to stay hidden from the world." Narcissa sighed, pushing Harry's chin down lightly so his bottom lip was released from between his teeth. "Stop that," she said softly. "No wonder your lips always look swollen; you keep chewing on them."
"I'll," Harry took in a deep breath. "I'll tell him soon. And then, you can ask your son where he buried Harry Potter." He stood up, cast the spell to change his appearance and canceled the spells on the door. "I really must be going, Narcissa. Thank you for the tea." His bangs shadowed over his eyes as he opened the door. He stopped when he felt thin arms arm around his shoulders.
"Harry," the witch began, but Harry cut her off.
"Don't worry," he placed a hand on hers. "I'll tell him the next time we meet. You'll hold up your word, and I'll hold up mine. Unless Draco specifically asks you who I am, you, nor Lucius, may say anything."
He felt Narcissa nod against his hair. She released him after a moment and the pair made their way down the stairs and to the drawing room where Draco and Lucius decided to move their discussion. Harry plastered a smile on his face, moved into the room and bowed his head at the Head of Malfoy. "I'm sorry to cut our time short, Mr. Malfoy, but I really must be on my way. Thank you again for inviting me into your lovely home."
Lucius nodded, glancing at his wife who entered with a sombre expression.
Draco stood and pressed a hand to his lower back, guiding them to the door. Harry grabbed his broom and propped it on his shoulder as they walked to the gate. "So about that secret," he smirked.
Harry gave a half smile, and patted his hand lightly. "In good time, my dear," he said quietly.
"Lily? Is something wrong? Did Mother say something bad to you?" Draco looked alarmed, like he really did care.
Harry smiled reassuringly and shook his head, locks of dark hair falling around his face. "No, nothing like that. Your mother is a very lovely lady. I very much enjoyed the books in your library. I'm just tired, not used to flying so much. I guess it just caught up to me," he lied.
Draco nodded, accepting the fib.
"I'll see you next week," he said, moving towards the gate again.
"Wait," Draco placed a hand on his shoulder, making him turn around. "I have something to do next Saturday."
Harry tensed slightly but waved a hand dismissively. "That's alright. I'll just see you some other time."
"Actually, I was thinking I could stay in the store with you, give you some company on Friday." Draco looked intently at him, looking like he might take back the offer in a second.
Harry figured Friday might be good day to tell Draco his big secret and quickly nodded, smiling up at him. "That would be great. I'll see you Friday, Draco."
Without waiting for any further response, Harry walked swiftly out of the gates and turned on his heel, apparating into an alley across from 12 Grimmauld Place. He moved into his house, locking the door behind him and sending his broom into the cupboard by the door. He enlarged his clothes back to the original size and dropped his spell, feeling relaxed in his own skin again. Harry toed off his shoes, stumbling over to the couch. The fireplace lit as he walked by, giving off a great warmth Harry so badly needed.
Harry collapsed onto the couch, letting his legs hang over the arm rest. He was glad Teddy wanted to stay the night at Bill and Fleur's this weekend. The wizard liked the silence of the house, it calmed him, yet caused him to panic. Without any distractions, Harry would be forced to think about how he would reveal the truth to Draco.
He took a deep breath and summoned the Firewhiskey and a glass from the bookshelves behind the couch. The liquid twinkled in the fire light as he poured. Relishing in the burn along his throat, Harry threw an arm over his eyes. The glass hanging loosely between his middle finger and thumb.
This is going to be a long week.