Warnings: Lanuage for now...I think that's all for this chapter
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, all belongs to the brilliant JK Rowling
I'm sorry, I know I said I'd get this up sooner, but I was having trouble with word. I also appologize for it being so short, but there was only so much I could put in this chapter. I won't keep you waiting any longer, so here is Diagon Alley and Marcus Flint...
Chapter Eleven: Diagon Alley and Marcus Flint
"Harry, you want to go into Diagon Alley today? We can pick up something for Hermione," Draco said as Harry walked out of the bedroom with wet hair. Harry smiled at him. It had been a month since Draco saved Harry and Harry was slowly healing.
"Sure, just give me a second." Harry said. He walked over to the couch and sat down. Pansy came out of the kitchen and, seeing Harry, wolf-whistled.
"Damn Harry, if you weren't gay I would most definitely go for you!" Pansy said as she sat in the chair across from Harry. Harry blushed brilliantly, as did Draco. He glared at the ground, trying not to stare.
"Right. . .I'm going to finish getting dressed. I'll be out in a few moments Draco." Harry said as he got up and walked to the bedroom door. Draco watched Harry walk away, little water droplets from his shoulder length hair trailing down his bare back. Pansy smirked at him in satisfaction.
"Come on Draco! Do it already, tell him how you feel! It's completely stupid to be doing this."
"Shut it Pans. I'm not in the mood for this right now." Draco said a bit breathlessly. He shook his head to get the image of Harry out of his mind's eye to no avail. Pansy shook her head and went over to the book shelf. She pulled out a particularly old book with a plain, black leather cover. She flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for. She sat back down in the chair and began reading.
"I'm ready Draco," Harry said as he walked out of the bedroom a few moments later. He was wearing form fitting black pants, a plain black shirt, and a green and silver cloak. Draco forced his eyes away from Harry and walked over to the fire place with Harry following behind him.
They flooed to the Leaky Cauldron where they were met by a group of admirers. Draco glared at them all until they moved out of his way. Harry followed closely behind, grateful for Draco's presence.
"Damn Harry, you still have a fan club. You'd think they'd have gotten over the fame by now." Draco complained as they made their way onto the main street of Diagon Alley. Harry shrugged his shoulders, wondering the same thing as well.
They continued on their walk, winding up in an old tea shop. They ordered some tea and looked at the books that were on display. Draco was in the middle of reading the back of A Rose in the Dark when their tea was brought to their table. Draco carried the book over to the table where he waited for Harry.
"Harry, I've found the next book in the series after The Rose and The Thorn." Draco said when Harry came back to the table, carrying a couple of books in his arms. He handed Harry the book and smiled as Harry's face lit up.
"I wonder if Zane is really dead. I hope not, I'd feel horrible for Xavier." Harry said as he read over the back of the book. Draco agreed with him as he sipped his tea.
"I doubt that he is, but you never know. I'm glad that it wasn't Xavier who did it though, that would make it all the more worse." Draco said. He thought back to the ending of the book. Draco thought that that was how it would have ended, had he gone to Voldemort. Draco didn't like it either.
They continued drinking their tea in silence, both reading the backs of books hoping to find something to aid them in the search for knowledge about the dragon statue. Harry had been included in the search two weeks after he started talking about what had happened. Harry had instantly proved to be an asset, spending the most time scanning any books that looked promising.
"I'm surprised no one's tried approaching me." Harry said after awhile, breaking the silence. Draco looked up at him, his eyebrow raised.
"I'm not, look at who you're with. No matter what side I'm on or what you say, I'm still the son of a Death Eater. People think I'm dangerous for that reason alone, they think that I'll kill them. I've put up with it for a few years now." Draco said, smirking at the look Harry gave him.
"That's bloody ridiculous! Who cares if you're father was a Death Eater! You were my fucking partner on missions for the Order! I'm still alive too, that should say something about your loyalty." Harry replied heatedly. Draco was a little shocked at how serious Harry was taking this. It didn't bother him in the least, granted it created a tense atmosphere at St. Mungo's, he liked it. People stayed away from him, didn't ask him questions. He liked being ignored.
"Don't worry about it Harry. I don't mind. Actually, I rather enjoy it. People don't bother me about-" Draco said, but he was cut off when a tall, dark haired man came to their table.
"Draco, is that really you?" The man asked. Draco looked at him in shock, then recognition.
"Yes, Marcus, it's me." Draco replied politely. Harry stared at Marcus, an internal war raging in his eyes.
"Bloody hell Draco, I can't believe it! I finally run into you, when I've been looking for you all over the place, and here you're on a date! Just my luck." Marcus Flint said. Draco looked at him in shock, having a hard time believing what Marcus had just said. Harry was first to speak up.
"We're not on a date Flint. Draco and I are just friends."
"Oh, wicked. Then I've still got a chance." Marcus said neither him nor Harry noticing the hurt look that crossed Draco's face at Harry's words. Draco knew they were true, but he didn't like hearing them spoken. Especially by Harry.
"Are you telling me that you want to date me?" Draco asked, needing to hear the other wizard say it. Draco hoped he'd heard right, he liked Marcus and he knew that Harry would never feel the same way about him. He needed to move on and dating Marcus would be the best way to do that.
"Of course I do! Who wouldn't? I mean, look at you," Marcus replied with a smile. Draco smiled back, blushing slightly at the implications. Harry looked at the table, avoiding the eyes of the other two.
"Perhaps I should let you two get reacquainted then. I think I'll go visit Hermione's shop." Harry said as he started to get up from the table. Marcus smiled at the idea but Draco got up too.
"Sorry Marcus, I'd love too but not today. If you're going to Hermione's shop, I'm coming with you Harry. Besides, I'd rather like to see how it's coming along." Draco said, cutting off Harry's protest with his hand. Marcus frowned but nodded his understanding.
"Perhaps another time?"
"Yes, that would be nice." Draco replied as he picked up A Rose in the Dark from the table.
"Brilliant, how about nine o'clock next Saturday night. We can have dinner at that new wizard restaurant Wolf Gothique. It's supposed to have excellent food."
"That sounds good Marcus, I'll see you Saturday. We can meet at the Leaky Cauldron." Draco replied. Marcus nodded his approval at meeting in the Leaky Cauldron. Draco went to the counter and paid for the book and then led Harry to Hermione's shop.
Draco didn't notice Harry's silence until they'd been in the shop for a few minutes. He turned and saw Harry staring mournfully at a picture of the Weasley's. He was about to say something when Hermione came bustling over.
"Harry, Draco! I'm so glad to see you. How are you two?" Hermione asked after hugging both of them as best she could. Harry smiled at her and nodded his head. Hermione smiled in reply and turned her attention on Draco.
"I'm wonderful, Hermione. How are you, though? You look as if you're going to be due anytime!" Draco said. Hermione smiled, albeit sadly, and sighed softly.
"I'm fine, and I'm due in a few months. So what's brought you two here?"
"You. . .We went to that teashop you've mentioned frequently. I have to admit, the food's good and we found the next book in the Rose Series." Draco replied enthusiastically. Hermione shook her head in amusement.
"And Draco's got himself a date." Harry interjected when Draco took a breath. Hermione looked sharply at Draco, peering at him thoughtfully.
"Who with?" Hermione asked after a few moments. Draco blushed, knowing why she was acting the way she was. Hermione knew how he felt about Harry and constantly tried to convince him to ask Harry on a date.
"Marcus Flint," Harry provided when Draco didn't say anything. Hermione's eyes flared in surprise.
"Flint? Why, of all people in Diagon Alley, did you decide to go on a date with Flint?" Hermione asked. Draco peered at her in annoyance.
"And what is that supposed to mean? Marcus really isn't as bad as you all think he is." Draco replied heatedly, defending the former Slytherin. Hermione only shook her head and turned to help a customer who had wandered over seeking her help.
"I believe she reacted that way because until just now, she didn't know that Flint was gay. He used to make passes at her." Harry said as soon as Hermione was out of ear shot. Draco nodded in understanding.
"I did not know that, should I say something to Marcus about that?"
"No, I don't recommend that. Hermione would kill you. . ." Harry replied seriously. Draco nodded and the two waited for Hermione to finish up with her customers.
The three friends talked and drank butter beer, fire whiskey, and in Hermione's case, tea. Harry and Draco then flooed back home from Hermione's fireplace where they were greeted by quite a surprising sight.
Author's Note: I appologize again for not getting this up when I said I would. I'm trying to get the next chapter done as soon as I can. Thanks for reading and being so patient with me! Please review!