While they waited for their drinks to arrive, Harry let his eyes wander over the heads of the people who filled the small room. From the insight the bar was rather shabby, with yellowed pictures and blind mirrors at the walls. Most customers however were around their age. Harry paused and looked closer at some of the couples. Had Draco taken him into… a gay bar?

Draco, who had observed Harry's reaction, chuckled. "It's not what it seems. At least not officially. This neighborhood has some kind of reputation. I used to come here often with… friends from college."

"Oh. Which college?" Harry asked. Draco's slight hesitation had not escaped his attention, however.

Draco sighed. "Harvard"

"No kidding! You were at Harvard? What was your major?" Excited, Harry leaned closer towards Draco to get every word over the noise.

"Economics. But you can calm down now, I never graduated. I dropped out before that."

Harry lifted his arms in mock exasperation. "Why would you do that?"

Draco shrugged. "I guess I found that I just didn't want to study economics anymore."

"What did you do instead?"

"I had a short encounter with arts and agriculture. Then I went to India and lived in an ecovillage for some years." Draco said, grinning.

"India? An ecovillage? Man, you are totally crazy", Harry laughed and Draco joined in.

Their drinks arrived and Draco thanked the barkeeper, took his beer and placed Harry's coke in front of him. "It was actually a good experience", he said.

"I bet it was", Harry shook his head unbelievingly. He raised his glass. "To crazy life decisions?"

Draco's glass met Harry's. "May they never end."

They drank.

Draco placed his beer on the table again and licked froth from his lips. His features grew dark. "My father wasn't delighted, however. He didn't take it very well that his only son didn't even achieve a bachelor's degree." He stared at the golden liquid swaying in the glass.

Harry took another sip of his coke and chose not to inquire further. He had been thinking about something else since the incident some days ago. "This guy at The Inn on the Wharf… Ron? Did you know him from somewhere before?"

Draco's grey eyes narrowed. "Ron! Yes… I actually met him here, in Boston, years ago. He studied at the MIT. Some engineering stuff. I suppose he graduated, though." He tried to sound unconcerned but his knuckles around the beer glass turned white.

"Poor guy, I think I shocked him to death", Harry chuckled, eyeing Draco from the side.

The blonde snorted. "Serves him right. He is such a git!"

"You are really angry."

"Yeah… guess we just never got along. He hated me from the first minute on. Because of my father. Because of who I am or what I had. He could be so jealous."

Harry raised an eyebrow but Draco seemed too deep in gloomy thoughts to notice. Harry jumped as his mobile phone vibrated in his pocket.

"Seems Thomas and Martin are back at the hostel."

Draco looked up. "They can join us, if they want."

"I'll tell them. And… Martin reminds me that we will have to get up early tomorrow to catch the boat."

"What boat?"

"We want to do whale watching. It really sounds amazing. Guess what, I have never seen whales! You want to come with us?"

Draco scratched his head. "Uh… I don't think I can afford this right now…"

Harry set down his glass. "Don't worry about that. I'll pay for your ticket!"

Draco looked downright shocked at the thought. "No, please… It's fine. I will walk around the city until you are back from the tour. It's going to be fun..."

"OK… Then… I'm going to stay with you."

"No, Harry, don't. I can see this is important for you. And I heard it is actually really amazing."

Harry sighed. "It is more important for me to spend the day with you."

Draco's nearly choked on his beer. "R… really?"

"Yes, really", Harry said, trying not to sound amused at Draco's reaction. "And can you please just forget about the money or pride or whatever? If paying for your ticket is all I have to do to be with you, I would love to do it."

Harry's green eyes searched for Draco's. When the blonde met his gaze he found that he had actually held his breath.

"OK… but I owe you", Draco said, nodding.

Harry beamed at him relieved. "You can pay your debt by helping me down from this ridiculous bar stool later", he said.