Word Count: 671

Easter Egg: Day 10, Watercolour: Second Chance

Blind Date

"I don't want to go on a blind date," Harry protested, shaking his head. "I don't want to date at all! It's not like it went well for me last time, is it?"

"It's been over a year, Potter," Draco said, sighing. "Besides, Granger said if I don't find someone for you to go on a date with, then she will, and you know she's been talking about the weird guy in Maintenance for you."

Harry groaned. "Why can't you all just mind your own sodding business. I don't need a relationship, I don't need a date, and I certainly don't need my friends to set me up!"

"Actually, I disagree," Draco said, leaning back in his chair. "Because I really think you need to get laid. Like, yesterday. You're getting moodier by the month."

"Fuck you."

…

"I blame you for this," Harry grumbled, as he got dressed. Ron snorted, and Hermione rolled her eyes at him, casting a charm to make his hair resemble something that was under control. Not neat by any stretch, but more of an artful messiness than his usual rat's nest.

"Is it really such a bad thing that we want you to be happy?"

Harry gave her a look. "Who said I can't be happy on my own?"

"You're an affectionate person," Hermione pointed out. "Your main love language is literally touch. I'm not saying that you can't be happy being single, but you'll be happier with someone you can be affectionate with."

"Hermione."

"What?"

"Draco is just trying to get me laid so I'm in a better mood when we have to do paperwork."

…

Harry arrived at the restaurant first, and he sat down in the private booth, grateful that Draco had, at least, taken his concerns about the public watching his every move into account.

He supposed it wasn't the worst thing, to have an evening out. He'd been staying home a lot lately, even his cat, Merlin, was getting bored of his company.

Tapping the table absently, Harry didn't notice the man joining him until the white of the waiters shirt caught his attention. He looked up to see who his date for the night would be, and his stomach dropped unpleasantly, as if the ground had just suddenly opened up.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" he asked, before he could remember that they were, in fact, in public, and a knock-down-drag-out fight was probably not the best idea.

"I'm here for our date," Tom said softly. Harry stood up to leave, shaking his head. "Please, Harry. Just one date. If you want to leave after and never see me again, I'll accept that. I… I miss you. I think we deserve a second chance."

Harry paused, and looked at Tom. Merlin, but he'd missed the man as well, he couldn't deny that. The last fourteen months, since they'd broken up quite spectacularly, had been… not the most fun time, and Harry wasn't over him.

He didn't know if he ever would be.

Sighing, he sat back down silently, and Tom slid into the booth facing him. "Thank you, darling."

Harry shuddered slightly. 'Darling' had been Tom's favourite pet name for him, and it had always made him feel loved and wanted.

"Why now?" he asked, tilting his head. "It's been fourteen months."

"And a week and two days. I know."

Harry blinked. "You've been counting?"

"Everyday without you," Tom confirmed. "I just… didn't know if you'd want to see me. When Draco informed me that Miss Granger had tasked him with finding you a date… I couldn't take the chance that you'd find someone new without at least trying to win you back."

"I'm going to stab him with my quill at work tomorrow. Just so you know."

Tom chuckled. "Worth it."

"I'm not sure he'll see it that way."

"Likely not, but if it makes you happy…"

Harry rolled his eyes and then picked up a menu. "I hate you."

"I know, darling. I know."