The Draught

A frustrated Draco arrived at 'The Draught' just in time to grab the last corner table. He sat down immediately and noticed that other patrons regarded him with disdain because he managed to grab the spot before them. As the waitress approached him Draco immediately notified her that he's expecting company. He knew that the staff doesn't usually allow customers to take up a full table if they're alone, especially if the pub is busy.

"Hi there, will it be just you tonight?"

"No, I've got a friend joining me. He'll be here shortly," Draco answered.

"No worries Mr Malfoy," the waitress responded with a smile. Draco looked at her with perplexity.

"I am sorry, we've met? Have you helped me before?" Draco was apologetic. He wasn't a usual at this pub but he was always conscience when someone recognised him and he wasn't aware of whom they were.

"Everyone knows the Malfoys," the waitress responded with another gracious smile. She was an older woman with short black hair and hazel eyes. "I've seen you here before, usually with that tall, thin fellow that always looks like he's never had a full meal in his life." The waitress' description of Theodore, Draco's boyfriend made him laugh loudly.

"He's a model," Draco confessed as the waitress nodded her head in an 'Ah' movement. "He's quite conscious of what he eats since he's usually in his pants and in front of cameras." Draco smiled as he sipped on the water she had brought to him. "But, he won't be coming here tonight. I am just waiting on a friend." Draco's gaze fell towards the main entrance on the pub and he saw Potter walk in shaking sleet off his shoulders. Draco supposed that the rain eventually must have turned into snow. He smiled when he saw Potter combing his hand through his hair attempting to tame the shag that only seemed to have further come undone. The waitress turned to look in the direction Draco was looking at and rotated back towards her customer.

"Oh, he's delicious. Definitely a keeper," she commented.

Draco smiled at her reaction and whispered, "We are just friends."

"Then, I'd say you fix that problem!" She laughed at her own comment and shortly left the table after stating, "I'll send a few pints over."

Draco stood up from his chair to wave at Harry. Due to his abrupt actions, Draco managed to spill the glass of water that was on the table. Harry came rushing over to help him. "Sorry, I am usually a lot more refined than this," he acknowledged.

Harry laughed. "That's quite alright; usually I am the one who is flustered and inept. It's nice to see someone else be more blundering than I."

The waitress returned with two pints of Stouts and smiled at Harry in a familiar custom. "Olivia, I didn't know you were working tonight!" Harry exclaimed when he saw the waitress that Draco was talking to earlier. Draco noted that she had brought two pints without taking an order and a shot of something else that she placed in front of Harry. She must know his order, he thought to himself.

"Harry, always good to see you. I took the liberty to bring your favourite when I saw you arrive. I hope your date doesn't object." Olivia, the waitress, turned to nod her head at Draco.

"Of course not, I am fine with a dark ale," Draco responded with a smile. "And, I've already told you…"

"Yes, you are just friends." The waitress nodded at Harry this time and continued, "I'll return with some menus if you're interested in a late night nibble."

Harry smiled at the waitress and turned his attention towards Draco. "Did you wait long? Sorry, I didn't realise that traffic would be busy at this time of night, but perhaps the weather has really troubled many people."

"It's alright; it was only a few minutes. I am surprised to see this pub so busy on a Tuesday night though. Don't these people have to get to work in the morning?"

"I am sure that's what they're wondering about us," Harry replied. Harry watched Draco take a sip of the pint that was placed in front of him. "Is everything alright? You sounded a bit worried on the phone."

Draco sighed. "I am afraid I might have cocked things up a bit, with my father I mean." Draco took another sip. "I told him what we had planned that you know, we weren't really compatible and that we had decided to stay friends but he kept pushing me and I snapped. I told him about Severus and how he wouldn't want me marrying someone into his family anyway because he's so arrogant and egotistic, that he'd rather sacrifice my happiness for his own stature." Harry stared at Draco wide-eyes as Draco talked. "I meant my father is egocentric, not yours," Draco clarified. "Yeah, so like I said, I think I've completely fucked it all up."

Harry smiled. He looked as though he was thinking it all over and attempting to find the right words. "It'll be okay," he said eventually. "I knew it was a shot in the dark, but it was a chance worth taking. I am glad you were upfront with your father though, it's never good to lie." Harry paused again, he gulped down the shot of whiskey the waitress had brought over and spoke again. "But, honestly, it sounds like your outburst with your father was something that had been building inside you for a while and it probably was triggered with our meeting today."

"You are right, it was. This entire ordeal of continuing on the legacy has been quite distressing. I mean, I am with Theodore, he's a male model. He's younger and he's not the type who wants to get married and adopt, he'll never be accepted into the family. He'll never be accepted by my father. Half the time, I don't even know if he loves me. I need to sort all of this out before I even think about the rest of my life. Can you imagine that? The rest of your life and I can't even decide which colour tie to wear for work in the morning!"

Harry nodded as Draco talked. They had finished their drinks and Harry hailed the waitress. They ordered another round and this time Draco asked for a shot of whiskey on the side as well.

"Why do you think Theodore doesn't love you?"

"I know he likes me. I mean we get along great and the sex, you know…it's amazing." Draco paused with an apologetic look in his eyes. "Sorry, is that too much?" Harry shook his head as he smirked. "But, sometimes he's mean and unapologetic. I don't know if he's with me because it's just convenient or if he's with me because he truly wishes to be. He's got men falling for him left and right, he gets propositioned loads of times but he never accepts them and it's because he says that he loves me but, sometimes, it's hard to believe with the way he treats me."

"What about you?" Harry asked.

"What about me?"

"Don't you get propositioned?" Harry paused, "I mean…you must." Draco smirked.

"I don't even entertain the idea. I am with Theodore and when we are out together, I don't pay attention to anyone else. I notice when someone's looking at him. Especially when we are out at a dance club, he's always got blokes trying to dance with him and I usually have to fend them off."

"Maybe that's your problem," Harry answered. Draco looked puzzled; he wasn't sure what Harry was trying to say. "Perhaps, you are so busy looking after him, you've forgotten to look after yourself. Maybe you should let someone flirt with you for once, see how Theodore reacts to it. If he gets jealous, that's your answer. If he' doesn't care, that's your answer. You should find out so maybe you can finally move on."

Draco thought over what Harry had said. They sat quietly for a few moments drinking their beers when Draco finally spoke. "Potter, what are you doing next week after Christmas?"

"Next week? Not much. My office is closed for the Holidays and we're not expected to be back until the 5th. But, I was going to work from home."

"So, you've got no plans for New Years?" Draco confirmed.

"No. I usually spend Christmas with my parents and New Years with my friend Ron's family. Every year they try to pair me off with someone they know and it's usually quite disastrous. Cedric is in Ireland visiting his family; it is his parents' fiftieth wedding anniversary. Apparently I wasn't important enough to be invited," a tone of disdain crept up in Harry's voice. "Sorry, I am rambling. Why do you ask?"

"A lot of us are going to the Berks next week on Tuesday. I've got a friend Greg, his family owns a castle, a real castle, and Greg thought of throwing a New Year's Eve party. We'll all be driving together and Theodore is going to be there. I thought maybe you could tag along. Get a feel for Theodore and maybe you can tell me if he really loves me or not? Also, from what you've told me, it sounds like you could use a respite from your meddlesome friends!"

"Sounds like fun but what am I going to tell my friends, what am I going to tell my parents?"

"Won't your parents understand? They know you're with someone and we are simply developing a friendship," Draco answered.

"I am not sure they might take it the wrong way, I will have to tell them I am travelling for work," Harry replied.

"Didn't you just tell me that it's not a good idea to lie?" Draco asked.

"Would you rather I not come at all?" Harry retorted.

"No, of course not. Lie away Potter!" Draco exclaimed as Harry laughed at his reaction.

"Let's keep in touch via text messaging then," Harry answered. When the waitress returned to the table, Harry asked for the bill and even though Draco wouldn't let up, Harry insisted on paying the tab. The promise of future drinks on Draco eventually had him calm down. He looked forward to spending next week with Potter and hearing more of his thoughts on Theodore.

(A/N): Sorry everyone if the chapters are short. I will work on them being longer for the future. What do you think of the Harry/Draco friendship?