A/N: Thank you for your patience, I know I am taking too long between updates. I won't make excuses, just my 18 months son and life seem to have consumed all my time. I am also in a writing funk – but I'm sure I will cheer up soon.
Thank you to all those who have read, followed and fav this fic. Most of all thanks to the following people who reviewed: -
Gryffindor Rat, iggle731, hPdC, Kigen Dawn, NYSnowflake, DarkAthene and Alijandra's Editor.
Chapter Three
It continued to rain on and off the following day, it seemed that yesterdays storm had opened the flood gates, and it hadn't stopped since.
Draco felt a pang of guilt for his actions yesterday, but he had said worse to Potter and so he shouldn't dwell on it. It wasn't like he would go over to him and apologise.
He felt Potter's intense gaze on him when he entered the great hall, he ignored it and even managed not to squirm. Today was Saturday, which Draco was thankful for. He could avoid Potter all weekend and hopefully by Monday Potter would have gotten over what he said to him.
Draco considered going out in the rain again, but he wasn't in the mood to stand in it; relishing the feeling of freedom. Maybe he would go take shelter somewhere outside, so he could watch the rain but avoid getting wet.
He casually strolled out to the front doors, wrapped his cloak around him and set off at a brisk walk. It wasn't raining too hard so he didn't bother casting any spells. He reached the same oak tree that he and potter argued under yesterday. Draco transfigured a leaf into a blanket and sat on it.
It had been raining so much since yesterday, that the grass was getting soggy and really muddy where students had walked all over it, churning the mud and rainwater together. Draco cast a cleaning spell at his shoes before the mud could dry.
He wondered why he automatically insulted Potter yesterday. He knew he couldn't be friendly as Potter would be more wary of that behaviour, than him actually being insulting. But still Draco knew he had crossed the line, he could have been civil, or just told Potter to stop being a sappy git and leave it at that.
Draco had never seen Potter cry, not full blown crying that screams disappear. Draco sometimes forgot that Potter was just a teenaged boy, a normal, ordinary – all be it an unfortunate teenage boy.
The more Draco thought about it, the more he was kicking himself. Potter had tried to open up to him yesterday, showing a rare sign of vulnerability by admitting he cried in the rain. Instead of taking the unexpected opportunity to become better acquainted with Potter, he ruined any chances of Potter opening up to him again.
Draco closed his eyes, took in a steady breath inhaling all the scents that the rain had magnified. With his eyes closed he could listen to the rain as it pattered onto the leaves of the oak tree, and all around.
Although he was listening to every sound around him, he didn't hear Potter approach. He snapped his eyes open when Potter spoke. He probably cast a spell to quieten the sound of his steps.
"May I join you?" Potter asked, pointing to the blanket Draco was sat on.
Draco nodded and shifted over making more room for him. Potter plopped on the blanket with no grace and bumped his shoulder against Draco's.
Draco was about to criticise his inability to be gentle but stopped himself. He didn't know why Potter was here, but he didn't want to start another argument – not if he could help it.
"I like watching the rain. I think it puts a lot of my insignificant problems into perspective. Rain and storms, its Mother Nature. The rain and storm is a majestic performance and manages to overshadow my pathetic attempts at brooding. No one broods like Mother Nature, hence she steals all the attention I was sulking after." Harry confessed, his voice light and almost cheerful.
Draco smiled, "Yes I suppose you're right. No use fighting it, it will rain no matter what you do."
Harry nodded, "Growing up, when I used to tend to my relatives garden and it rained, I would sulk and complain. But then one day after the rain came a beautiful rainbow, and I realised I wouldn't have seen it without the rain beforehand. I liked the rain after that, and I always look out for rainbows."
Draco frowned lightly, not from Potter's words, he was puzzled.
"Why are you telling me these things? Why are you being so nice?" He blurted, he just couldn't understand it.
Potter shrugged, "Why not. You enjoy the rain just as much as I do, and I feel comfortable with you. I don't know why, I just do."
Draco stopped the goofy grin from spreading on his face, only letting a small smile show.
"I can be a bit of a pessimist and my mother used to say such cheesy things to me to get me to look on the brighter side of things. I used to complain about the rain too. She said 'Everyone wants, happiness. No one wants, pain. But you can't have a rainbow, without a little rain.' and the one I liked the most, 'Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.' It made me look at the rain differently." He smiled at the memory.
Harry was smiling too, "I don't mind the rain at all. I used to be out in it all the time growing up. Either avoiding my cousin, or working in the garden. I grew to love the rain, take comfort in it. Dudley hated the rain, and I knew he would retreat indoors and I would have a few hours peace."
Draco turned to look at Potter, "Dudley? What an awful name. Why would you avoid him? You seem the type to get on with everybody." Draco wasn't insulting him, he did think Potter was just one of those people that everyone liked. Something about him just draws you in.
Potter blew out his breath, "I guess I should answer that. I mean I can't talk about things and not expect you to ask questions. I was the one who started that topic of conversation." Harry reasoned.
Draco thought Potter was acting strange.
"You don't have to tell me. It's not like we're friends." He didn't want to force Potter to tell him.
Harry watched him intently, eyes bright, "No I guess we're not friends – not yet anyway. I'd like to be though." He said sincerely.
Draco felt uncomfortable under such an honest and hopefully stare. He looked out towards the rain, unable to look Harry in the eyes any more, "Not friends yet – but maybe, one day."
"Okay I'll take what I can get. Not friends – but one day." He said determinedly.
After a moments pause he continued, "To answer your earlier question, I used to hide from my cousin and his friends. They often ganged up on me and bullied me, or used me as a practice punch bag. But like you have often pointed out, I'm a skinny wanker. Makes me light on my feet. Dodged them and ran. Dudley could never keep up." He said proudly.
Draco chuckled, "I'm one to talk really – I'm skinny." He admitted, especially since sixth year, he dropped a lot of weight through stress and he hasn't really put it back on. He still weighs less than he did when he was in fifth year.
Harry seemed to sense his darkened mood, "Stress will do that to a person. But you're tall you can pull it off. Claim it's lean and make it a new fad or something – all statuesque and graceful. All the witches will swoon and all the wizards will try an emulate you." He tried to cheer Draco up.
Draco snorted, "If you say so."
Draco was self-conscious of his body. He knew he was attractive, face wise. He had nice hair, complexion and attractive features – but he was paranoid about his body. Like most teenagers he supposed. It wasn't like he had a partner to boost his confidence and help him realise he didn't have an unattractive body.
Harry turned to look at Draco and seemed on the verge of saying something else, but he remained quiet and returned to watching the rain fall on the grounds.
"If you could change one thing about yourself – physically, what would you change?" Harry softly said, pulling his knees up and wrapping his arms around his legs.
Draco thought for a moment, where to start? There were so many things he would like to change that he didn't know which one to pick.
"Nothing huh?" Harry sceptically said. Although Harry thought Draco was perfect, he would have assumed that Draco would have at least one thing he disliked about himself.
Draco turned to him and snapped, "No. I know I'm not perfect. I just find it hard to choose one thing." He defended himself.
Harry raised his eyebrows briefly, "Oh. Well you shouldn't be so down on yourself. What was your one thing?"
Draco sighed, "If I had to choose one thing, I guess I would say my legs. They are long, skinny, with knobbly knees and all. Chicken legs." he grumbled.
"Well I haven't seen your bare legs so I'll take your word for it. But I bet they're not that bad. Besides who our age had the perfect body. Not to mention everyone's opinion regarding what perfection is, varies."
He turned and smiled at Draco, "I think you mange to work your chicken legs. I mean both you and Ron are tall, and have long legs. Ron is gawky and gangly, yet you seem to move with ease. More fluid and gracefully." He complimented.
Draco knew he would be blushing, but he could claim it was from the cold air if Potter pulled him up on it. It was strange just talking with Potter, let alone Potter complimenting him. To try and get the attention away from him Draco asked.
"What about you? What would you change about yourself? Other than the scar, that doesn't count." He coolly asked.
Harry chuckled, "Although being without the scar would have it's benefits, I have gotten used to having it. I guess I am like you in a way, most likely like most teenaged boys, there are a few things I would change. But if I had to pick one I'd say …."
"Your hair?" Draco joked.
"No. I don't hate my hair. It can be a pain, but I don't hate it enough to wish to change it. I'd say..."
"Your nose." Draco said around a smile.
"No. What's wrong with my nose?"
"Nothing. Go on." Draco teased.
"I think I would say..."
"Your ears." Draco piped up.
"No. Will you stop interrupting. Git." Harry sulked, but only mildly.
"Sorry, it was too easy. I promise I won't interrupt, what is the one thing you'd change?" He pacified Harry.
Harry huffed but continued, "I would say..." he paused, giving Draco a look to say 'I dare you to interrupt.'
When Draco didn't he continued, "My height. Yes I know it's a predictable answer, but I hate being shorter than everyone else." He whined.
Draco smiled, "I like it. Makes me feel superior to you. When I insult you and sneer at you, it is all the better doing it looking down at you." He admitted, no malice behind his words, in fact he sounded amused.
Harry stared at him, "Well if my height helps you with your superiority complex, who am I to complain." He teased.
Draco laughed, and Harry grinned at him.
"What would you say is your best feature?" Harry asked.
Draco sighed, "Blimey Potter where did you learn your conversational skills? It sounds like a quiz out of Witch Weekly." He moaned.
Harry shrugged, "It's not like we can talk about our everyday lives. So much we have to avoid. A lot of our past is at the moment a no go area. I thought if we were going to be friends we should at least talk and get to know one another. Might as well do that through cheesy questions, that I may have read in Ginny's girly magazine. It wasn't witch weekly though."
Draco shook his head, "What does Weaslette say about you reading her girly magazines, and using the information to talk with me?" He grudgingly asked, knowing they couldn't stay in the rain, talking forever. They'd soon return to their lives and that meant Harry would return to Ginny.
"She just takes the piss when I read her magazines. Said she should have guessed all along. Says now she knows, it is blatantly obvious. I think that's bull. I don't read it for fashion advice or gossip, I just happen to have read a few whilst I was bored waiting for her to get ready for Hogsmede one weekend." He rambled.
"You don't have to defend what you choose for your reading material. What do you mean she knows and it's obvious?" He was intrigued.
Harry looked startled, "I -um it doesn't matter."
Draco sat up straighter, "What? Why won't you tell me?" He demanded.
"I will. When I'm ready. It's just something not many people know, and I don't want our almost friendship to change because of it." He admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.
Draco regarded what Harry said for a few moments, "Fine whatever. Maybe when we're friends you'll feel more comfortable with telling me." He conceded grumpily.
Harry sighed in relief, "Thank you. I will tell you, just not yet. Back to my cheesy girly magazine inspired question. What is your best feature?" He brightened up and tried to breeze past the awkwardness. He almost admitted to Draco he was gay, no way was he doing that yet.
Draco once again thought the question over, "I'd say..."
Harry answered in his head...Your eyes, your hair, your voice, your lips, your ass...His inner monologue of Draco's best features was interrupted by Draco answering with.
"...my cheekbones and maybe complexion." He said as if he was unsure if they were really good features.
Harry nodded, "Yeah you do have a nice complexion and skin. I don't think I ever saw you with one spot ever!"
Draco grinned, "I know, lucky I guess. Goyle went through the acne stage, had to get Pomfrey to give him Acne Salve to prevent scarring. It was gross, and I am very glad I never suffered from spots."
Harry shifted slightly and stretched his legs out in front of him, "Probably all that greasy food and junk he used to eat. Caused the spots. I'm surprised Snape never had any." He joked.
Draco sniggered, but when Harry looked at him he pretended to be serious, "That isn't very nice. Talking about a dead man like that."
Harry waved the comment off with one hand, "I'm sure wherever he is, in some strange afterlife, he will be insulting me daily, in fact hourly even."
Draco could see Potter had a point, "Most likely. What would you say is your best feature? And don't say your eyes, that is too easy. Everyone compliments your eyes."
Harry scrunched up his nose, "I know. It is rather annoying. If I hear about my brilliant shining emerald eyes one more time, I might...Dunno I was going to say spell them a different colour, but I wouldn't do that. Not when they are my mothers eyes." He said woefully.
Draco grumbled, "You'd be a fool to spell them a different colour." He didn't elaborate, but he had referred to Harry's eyes as brilliantly emerald, luckily only in his own head and not out loud.
"Well it's not my eyes, hair or teeth. Um I guess I have nice lips?" He didn't sound convinced.
Draco agreed with Harry in his head, he often stared at Harry's lips and fantasised about kissing him.
"I guess. They are a nice enough shape, bit chapped though." Draco winced, he couldn't just compliment him, he had to insult him too – What is wrong with me!
Harry licked his lips to try and moisturise them, "It's the cold weather. Makes them dry and chapped." He refrained from touching them with his fingers, he didn't want Draco to think he was hurt, even though he was slightly offended.
Draco rolled his eyes, "Merlin Potter. We have been at this school since we were eleven, and you know the climate by now. Invest in some chap-stick, or look up a spell that protects the from the elements."
Harry guessed that made sense, "I've been too busy, and well that took effort." He defended.
Draco stopped the eye roll, he had already done that once, he didn't want to repeat himself, even if Potter was that exasperating.
"If we are friends still at Christmas I will get you some chap-stick as a gift. Spare you the effort of buying it, or looking up the spell. Happy." Draco snootily said.
Harry beamed, "Ecstatic. Thanks."
Draco shook his head. "Any more cheesy girly questions?" He was enjoying their weird, yet fulfilling conversation.
Harry nodded, "Sure. What would be your ideal date? That one was a really girly one, thought you'd appreciate it." He shot Draco a sly smirk.
Draco just glared at him for a moment, "Ideal date...hmm. I've never really had a proper date. I've been someone's boyfriend, and even went to the Yule Ball with Pansy. But actually gone on a proper first date, never happened. I just skipped the dating stage and went to the seeing one another – or the..well you know."
"You little man slut." Harry proclaimed, in mock astonishment. It was common knowledge that Draco had a few girlfriends, and even boyfriends. He got bored easily and moved on.
"I am not! I didn't engage in sexual acts with all of them. Like your Mr Innocent. I heard Cho Chang let you shag her fifth year, also Lovegood, and Weaslette." He was offended, Harry was just as experienced, maybe not with boys but still.
Harry snorted, "I never shagged Cho. We kissed, that was all. It was rather shit really. I haven't even shagged or kissed Luna, that's just wrong. She's...she's...like a sister I guess. As for Ginny, I can't deny that one." He blushed.
"Oh. So just Weasley then? Like you said no denying that, not when you were caught in a rather compromising position in the Charms classroom. I though even Weasley would have more class than that." Draco said with disdain.
"Yes just Ginny. We weren't having sex in the classroom. You know this place, rumours get out of hand. Luckily we were only caught by a Hufflepuff prefect. Gee how embarrassing." He covered his face with his hands.
Draco felt elated to hear Harry confirm that he had only been with female Weasley – and not with a man. He allowed his brain to fantasise about being the first man Harry will be with, and then refocused his mind and pushed the fantasy aside.
"You should be embarrassed. Being caught by a fifth year Hufflepuff prefect – that is dreadful." He mocked.
Harry elbowed him in the arm, "Oi. I was um distracted. Anyway you're one to talk, I heard plenty of rumours about you." He wanted to drag Draco into his realm of embarrassment.
"Like what?" He queried, rubbing his arm where Harry's elbow dug in.
Harry racked his brain trying to remember some of the more far fetched rumours.
"Apparently you were left bound naked in the prefects bathroom – Pansy left you as revenge." He laughed, it sounded like Parkinson.
Draco looked sideways at Harry, "False. Pansy and I only ever went to the Yule Ball together, and that was more as friends then real dates. We have never, and will never be intimate with one another. Although she has tried many times."
Harry smiled, pleased that Draco and pug face hadn't been together.
"It's stopped raining." Harry pointed out, stating the obvious.
"So it has." Draco replied.
"I guess I better head back in." Harry stood and brushed off his trousers.
Draco also stood, "Right."
"It's been nice talking with you. I would say we are almost friends." Harry quipped.
"Almost. You wish." Draco playfully retorted.
"Hmm I think another chat is in our future. I will get you to become my almost friend." He boldly declared.
"Next time bring your own blanket, and maybe some snacks and we'll see." Draco said loftily.
Harry laughed and bid goodbye, strolling confidently towards the castle. Draco plopped on the blanket, in the same manner he chastised Harry for earlier.
Just when he though he had Potter figured out, he just blows all his views out of the water. He assumed Harry would be angry at him for his behaviour yesterday. Yet he sought him out, talked with him and even suggested becoming almost friends. It was very confusing and didn't help Draco with his feelings towards him.
Draco wondered if Harry would seek him out in public or private. He had a suspicion that he would wait until it was once again raining.
Draco headed back to the castle, deciding to go ask Pansy if she started those rumours about him. He didn't care, he just wanted to watch her try and talk her way out of it. He was certain it was her that convinced the student population that they had sex, on more than one occasion.