Author's Notes: So the author listened to a lot (a lot!) of Patsy Cline radio on Pandora in inspiration for the story. I hope you like the conclusion!
"She wants us to what?" Pansy nearly screamed at Draco when he'd informed her of what had happened earlier that day.
"She's going to owl you, you can politely decline," Draco answered, sipping his red wine as they sat in Pansy's favourite restaurant.
"I knew I should have tried harder for you to not take that job." Pansy glared at the menu but Draco knew she wasn't reading it.
"What do you mean, and why would I listen to you, anyway?"
"I knew this was going to inconvenience my life."
Draco groaned. "Not everything is about you, Pans."
"Right. It's difficult enough to sit here and watch you day after day pine over that good for nothing Nott, and now I'm being pulled into a Christmas dinner with the Weasleys! I have half a mind to just Portkey to France!"
"You wouldn't dare leave me alone with them!"
"Why can't you say no for yourself. You're not a Gryffindor, you don't owe them anything!"
"Pansy! I work for Potter, and Hannah and Longbottom are going to be there, too. I can't turn them down without having other proper plans. There's too much history for me to just ignore the gesture."
"And this has nothing to do with the fact that Potter is bent and you want to know if he's single."
"Why would I care if Potter is single?" Draco gulped; he hated that she could see right through him. But, he could see right through her too. He knew she was interested in going. "Besides, I'm sure Charlie Weasley is going to be there…"
Pansy scoffed. "What has that got to do with anything?
"Weren't you the one who went on and on when the article was published in the Prophet?" Draco teased.
About a year before, Charlie Weasley was featured in the Daily Prophet because he'd discovered and written a book on a species of dragons that were considered extinct since the 1700s. Pansy developed a crush on the Weasley brother ever since seeing his picture in the paper and had even gone out to purchase the book. They never talked about it, but Draco knew her new obsession with dragons had surfaced through that. She'd even gotten a tattoo of an Imoogi on her right arm.
Pansy scowled at Draco and stopped talking. He returned his gaze to the menu and was saved when the waiter arrived to take their order.
Pansy and Draco didn't discuss Christmas dinner with the Weasleys after that for a week, not until Pansy declared that she'd received three owls from Mrs Weasley and one from Hannah Abbott-Longbottom. Molly had sent her reminders regarding the dinner and Hannah, an invitation to the Only The Lonely New Year's Eve Party.
"Why am I being dragged into this?"
"It's an invitation, Pansy," Draco said, exhaling. "You can just write back saying no."
"But if I say no, then I'll be alone." She was clearly frustrated and Draco felt bad.
0-0-0-0
Work had been picking up on a daily basis and Draco found himself looking forward to being busy. Attending the grief counselling sessions became easier and he had even stopped crying after the third time he heard Sally recite her letter. Although, whenever Longbottom talked about his parents, Draco couldn't help but feel a jab of guilt in his heart.
RSVPs for the party were flying in daily and the Muggle phone on Draco's desk also tended to ring nonstop for hours on end.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" Hannah asked him one afternoon when he stated that he was just going to eat his lunch at his desk.
"Yes, I can handle it!" Draco answered, a bit offended. Hannah was the last person he wanted breathing down his neck. "I just want to finish this all off before calling it a day." It was the twenty-third of December and the Headquarters were going to be open for a few hours on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day that Draco had signed up for. He reckoned that with the responsibility of opening up shop for stragglers, he'd make sure he wouldn't get drunk the nights before with Pansy. The last thing he wanted was to show up at Christmas Dinner at the Burrow hung over.
"We couldn't get any volunteers to work with you on Christmas Eve so Charlie's offered," Hannah informed him as she looked over a list of the guest attendees for the party. "Oh dear, the Minister still hasn't informed us if he'll be arriving alone or if his Junior Assistant is also attending."
"Charlie Weasley?" Draco's ears perked up.
"Yeah, you know—"
"I know who he is," Draco answered hurriedly.
"Is that okay with you?" Hannah looked concerned.
"More than okay." Draco could feel the sly smiled on his face and Hannah's eyes narrowed on him. "Do you know if he's single?"
"I thought you had a boyfriend," Hannah responded.
Funny, Draco didn't remember telling her that. "I do. I'm asking for a friend."
"Right."
"I am, though!"
"He's straight."
"That's good, because I'm really asking for a friend!"
Hannah smiled at him and nodded again. Draco groaned. He didn't want to air Pansy's business to his employers and simply took the joking expressions Hannah was throwing at him. If anything happened between Pansy and Charlie Weasley in the future, all of this would get sorted out anyway.
He returned his concentration to the work at hand and tried to forget that Hannah might tell the Weasley clan that he had a crush on Charlie just like he was sure that Molly Weasley had announced to all of them that Draco had a boyfriend.
Boyfriend. Theo. Draco hadn't thought about Theo in days. He had started staying later and later at work and would only go home to feed Max, really. He'd wake up in the morning early to beat Potter to the Trident Café. He was getting tired of Potter buying him his morning coffee and mid-afternoon hot cocoa with a cinnamon and chocolate scone. Draco thought it was weird how Theo never remembered what kind of scones Draco liked and Potter had learned to remember everyone's favourites.
"Working late again?" It was half past eight and Draco was sitting at his desk, going over the catering menu for the week after Christmas until the party. He didn't think anyone was still there since the session would have ended a half hour before.
"Potter!" Draco looked up from his desk and saw Potter leaning against the wall, smiling at him. "You scared me half to death!"
"I'm sorry," Potter answered. "I just didn't think you'd still be here."
"Well, I just need to send in the food order for the week, then I'm off." Draco's stomach growled. Having been staring at a food menu and jotting notes for the past hour had made him hungrier than usual. He looked at Potter apprehensively, wondering if he'd heard his stomach roar.
"I was going to get some tea and sandwiches...will you come with?"
"I—uh—"
"My treat, of course. Hannah's been going on about how hard you've been working—let me buy you some tea."
"I'd rather drink wine," Draco said dryly; he was more talking to himself than Potter. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"Alright, I'm good with wine," Potter said, smiling. "Come on!" Potter grabbed Draco's coat that hung on the rack and Draco didn't have a moment to think it over. Potter was behind him, putting Draco's coat on him. "Arm." Draco obediently followed. When did Potter become so demanding? It was almost endearing. Almost.
When they went downstairs, Potter grabbed his umbrella and Side-Along Disapparated Draco to an alley and they walked over to a Muggle café. "They have the best cheese sandwiches," Potter said as he opened the door for Draco.
"Harry!" the woman behind the counter yelled gleefully.
"Hi, Doris," Potter said, waving at her and pulled out a chair for Draco.
All of a sudden, everything was feeling very date-like to Draco. "So they all know you here." Draco looked around and noticed some of the patrons also smiled at Harry and the waitress that dropped off the menu squeezed his shoulder before walking away.
"They like me because I'm nice, that's all." Potter chuckled and Draco didn't understand. "I like coming here because everyone's really nice here and they like me because they just do and not because I'm some big named celebrity or whatever. It's sort of easy to get lost in the crowd sometimes."
Draco nodded and looked over at the menu. He had been lost in the crowd too at Juniper. So much so that no one even cared for him anymore either. This was different though, and of course, this wasn't a job. It was just a café.
"Besides, isn't it all about finding joy in the little things, right?" Potter asked, chuckling.
"Of course when everyone loves you, you can easily find joy," Draco retorted. He didn't understand why Potter was being so cheery.
Potter laughed, annoying Draco further. "Doesn't Hannah say that you only get joy by spreading joy? That's all I'm trying to do. I just kept coming back here because I like the food, and I tip well—"
"Of course, money is the other thing that buys happiness and love," Draco said, teasingly. Hannah did go on and on about being joyful and elated all the time; it only made sense that it rubbed off on Potter.
"Not to mention, power," Potter answered and Draco snorted. After all this time, it surprised Draco to see Potter having a sense of humour.
They placed their order with the waitress; Potter asked for a grilled habanero cheddar cheese sandwich and Draco ordered a turkey and tomato panini. Potter had been correct; Draco's sandwich was delicious and Potter offered his to Draco for a taste.
"It's really good, you should try it," Potter insisted and held up the sandwich to Draco and Draco took a bite from it. It had a spicy kick to it, but it was in fact delicious. Draco closed his eyes and allowed the flavour to take over his senses and when he opened them up again, Potter was staring at him.
"What?" Draco said as he wiped his mouth with his thumb. "Did I get sauce on me, what?"
"Nothing," Potter answered and cleared his throat, returning his gaze towards the sandwich and took a bite.
"It was really good. I think I might order that for myself next time," Draco said, trying to break whatever awkwardness had emerged in-between them.
"I'm sorry," Potter mumbled and Draco looked up from his panini. "I'm not very good at this. Here I am, trying to take you to dinner, to get to know you, and I've just gone and made things more uncomfortable between us."
Draco laughed. It was all he could do. "I really don't think things could ever not be awkward between us, Potter," he said. "We've always only managed to bring out the worst in each other."
"Yeah, I was hoping that would change some day—"
"For how long?" Draco asked.
"How long what?"
"You'd been hoping that things would change?"
"Oh, I don't know—since the Trials—"
The conversation was interrupted again when the waitress returned inquiring about dessert. Draco hated that Potter looked at him and smiled. So that secret obsession he had with sweets wasn't as secretive as Draco had hoped.
It was funny really, Theo thought Draco hated sweets.
Potter ordered for them. The waitress brought Draco a Chocolate Trifle and Potter ordered himself a Strawberry Sponge Cake. Draco was definitely eyeing Potter's dessert and he indeed caught Potter look at him and grin.
The place was well-lit and busy, and at times Potter had to shout to get the waitress to get them some more wine, but this was the most fun Draco had had in a very long time. For some odd reason it felt right to be there with Potter, even if he was technically his boss. It even felt a bit romantic.
Get real, Draco, he told himself. This was not romance. Now if Potter leaned across the table and spooned a bit of his cake in Draco's mouth—Draco felt heated as he envisioned the scene. He told himself to snap out of it. The man sitting across from him was not his date. It was his boss and not to mention Potter.
"Draco, are you alright?" Potter asked.
Draco nodded. "Fine. No, just fine." However, the erection in his trousers was telling him otherwise.
At the end of the night, Potter and Draco walked back to the Apparition point quietly. "Can I ask you a question?" Potter said as they were getting ready to part. "It's been sort of bothering me for a few days."
Draco squinted his eyes and looked at Potter. What about him could be bothering Potter? He'd been doing his best to avoid the man. Draco nodded sceptically, gesturing for him to continue.
"You still haven't renovated Conference Room D," Potter said. "You did a great job in A and Hannah of course thought that you were going to do all four rooms in House Colours, and I didn't feel like breaking her bubble. I know she loved the Hufflepuff room and Luna and Cho really approved of the Ravenclaw room when they came by to visit the other day—"
"Lovegood came by?" Draco asked. Where was he, and why hadn't he heard of it?
"Yeah it was last Sunday. You'd already left. Hannah's been going on about you to everyone and anyone that'll listen and Luna really wanted to check it out…"
"I've been busy with the arrangements for the party—"
"Of course, I understand. I just know that Hermione's been dying to see the Gryffindor room and—"
"I'd planned on doing it tomorrow, I'd hoped maybe Charlie Weasley could help. Given he was a Gryffindor and all," Draco lied. He'd been extremely nervous about decorating the last room after hearing what everyone had raved about with the first three. After the Hufflepuff room, the Ravenclaw had not been a problem at all and Padma Patil had assisted him. The room was painted royal blue with walls charmed to look like bookshelves, and the ravens on the curtains would spread their wings in direct sunlight.
It didn't help that besides Hannah, anyone and everyone that was associated with Lonely Souvenirs was a former Gryffindor. If he did a poor job, he was afraid of scrutiny. Pansy of course thought he was being ridiculous, but Draco knew he had to finish it off before Christmas was over.
"Maybe I can help," Potter said, shocking Draco.
"What?" Draco said, his surprise coming through in a mocking tone, and he hadn't meant it that way. The thought of being alone with Potter in the office for hours was beginning to feel really intriguing, and the idea that they'd work together—Draco thought could strengthen their bond, professional bond, of course.
"Nevermind, I'll see you later, Malfoy," Potter said and before Draco could say anything else, Disapparated.
Draco immediately felt lonely and defeated. He missed Potter's company. Cursing himself for giving himself an idea of having something more meaningful with Potter, Draco Disapparated and collapsed on his bed.
0-0-0-0
Draco woke up the next morning with Max growling and walking all over his face. As much as Draco enjoyed company in bed, he'd wished that the company next to him wanted more than just food. At least Theo would get him off before asking Draco to go on a coffee run.
He'd tossed and turned most of the night, wondering how he'd offended Potter. Worse, he was also worried about his job. He'd been walking on eggshells since he'd started. Hannah had warmed up to him, but Longbottom had barely said a word to him still and Potter often tried to be his friend and Draco would go and muck it up every time.
In the shower, Draco tried to wash his stress away and as the steam engulfed around him, he held his prick and thought about Theo. In the beginning, Draco remembered how he was always late to work because Theo would enter the shower behind Draco and push him against the wall. After they started living together, Theo often showered while Draco was out getting breakfast. The thought managed to put a frown on Draco's face and he tried to dismiss it.
He remembered how they'd sit in bed together — naked — and would feed each other dessert. Draco whimpered with need; the thought brought his cock back to life and Draco began stroking himself again. That night, they'd managed to smear dessert all over their chests and licked each other off. Draco moaned with desire and longing for Theo, for feeling his hands on him, his body pressed against his.
Then Draco remembered how he'd wished Potter had spoon-fed him the cake last night, and how he'd held the sandwich and Draco had taken a bite of it, their hands gently brushing against each other's and—what was Draco doing? Why was he wanking himself and thinking of Potter? He felt conflicted, yet he didn't stop. He remembered the way Potter had licked his lips the night before after he'd gotten a bit of whipped cream from the cake. Draco whimpered and wished how he could have licked it off with his tongue. Draco kept pulling on his cock, thinking of that moment with the whipped cream and bit his lip. He dashed his head back and moaned as he came, the hot water washing him off at the same time.
Potter.
Moments later, Draco found himself sitting on his bed, elbows resting on his knees, his hands in his hair. What was he doing? He'd just emotionally cheated on Theo by thinking about another man. Theo, the caring man who'd given up everything to help others and here Draco was wishing he had someone else in their bed.
Not just any other man, Harry Sodding Potter.
Not forgetting to leave food out for Max, Draco headed off to work. His usual routine had been to leave his flat early, Apparate to the closest point near Trident, grab a cocoa then walk to the Lonely Souvenirs Headquarters. Still feeling distressed about the events of the morning, Draco Disapparated directly to Headquarters. He focused on arriving in the kitchen to make coffee before going to his desk to check the mail.
"Blimey, you scared me," Potter said as soon as Draco Apparated in.
"Potter!" Draco was startled himself. "How...why are you here?"
"Charlie isn't feeling that great so Molly insisted that he rest up…" Potter gave Draco a once over. "You alright, Malfoy?"
"Fine," Draco answered, avoiding eye contact and left the kitchen without any coffee. He rushed to his desk and sat down, immediately feeling nauseous. "What am I doing…" he whispered to himself and rested his head in his hands.
"Malfoy…" Draco heard a whisper of his name and immediately jerked up to look towards the staircase. "I brought you some…" Potter placed a cup of cocoa from the café on the desk next to Malfoy, nodded and walked away.
"Thanks…" Draco tried to reply, but he wasn't sure if Potter heard him. Since it was Christmas Eve, Draco was thankful that he'd only have to spend half a day in the office, and most of it required dealing with paperwork.
"Do you have plans for lunch?" Potter emerged from his office a few hours later, startling Draco again. Lost in his thoughts and hiding behind paper work, Draco hadn't realised it had been three hours since Potter had given him that hot cocoa.
Draco's stomach grumbled. Apparently his body had also briefly forgotten that he'd skipped breakfast. "No, I—"
"I'll head off to that sandwich place again, get you anything?" Potter asked. Draco found himself slightly disappointed that Potter didn't ask him to tag along.
"Yeah, sure." Draco smiled reluctantly. "Same as last night, I had—"
"A turkey and tomato panini." Potter nodded at him and walked away, leaving Draco more confused than before.
"Potter!" Draco chased after Potter and ran downstairs. Potter turned immediately, as though eager to hear whatever Draco had to say. "Erm...can you also get me one of those Muggle fizzy drinks?" Draco didn't know what to say, but he wanted to see Potter before he left.
"Yeah. All right."
A moment later, Potter left and Draco was alone. He didn't want to go up the stairs again and sit at his desk feeling only more conflicted than ever before. It was one thing to want to end things with Theo; Pansy would be proud, he was sure. But, to want Potter. When did that happen?
Feeling irritated with his mind and his heart, Draco stared down the long hallway and remembered Conference Room D—the room he hadn't decorated yet. He supposed that Potter would be gone for at least twenty minutes, and there were still a box of member 'contributions' left that needed to be hung up. Thinking, "no time like the present," Draco picked up the box from the supply closet and headed to the last room.
Learning to paint by magic in different colours was no longer a difficult task. Draco closed his eyes and with a few wrist movements, the walls were now crimson, with gold trimmings and gold curtains. Draco stared at the empty walls for a while. The wall that had the most unblemished space: no door, no counter set against it, no windows. He placed family portraits of those lost in the war that belonged in Gryffindor. He'd found a few pictures in the box.
On the wall that had the windows and the giant curtains, Draco swished his wand and drew a Quidditch Pitch. The golden snitch glided across the room as the eyes in the portraits followed it; frowning when they'd lose the visual.
The wall that had the archway entry, Draco saved for Dumbledore. The words flew from his wand onto the canvas as though they were meant to be there always. Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Remembering, we should not only impart our grief but remember the joy which only spreads itself freely when shared.
"Draco?"
Draco heard Hannah's voice from down the hall and left the room immediately to seek her. "I'm here," he said as he came out of the room. "What are you doing here, where's Potter?"
"Harry had to leave for the day, but he came by to drop off your lunch and asked me if I could stay for the rest of the day."
"Oh," Draco said disappointedly. "It's only two more hours left, you didn't have to come. You could have just Flooed me."
"Hey! Did you decorate the last room?" Hannah said excitedly as she walked past him and all but shoved a small bag in his hands. "Wow, Draco. This looks amazing. Harry is going to love it!"
"Well I hope more than just him," Draco joked and opened the plastic wrap that the sandwich was packaged in. Hannah laughed and he took a bite of the sandwich; it was just as delicious as the night before, although, somehow Potter's company had made it better.
"Hannah…" Draco said, his voice so low, he wasn't sure that he wanted to ask the question he'd been thinking. "Is everything alright with Potter?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?" Hannah asked, still looking around the room as she rested against the counter.
"He's just been acting a bit odd—I mean—odder than usual. I suppose that doesn't really mean anything to you, he's probably acting normal to you…" Draco sighed with irritation. When did he develop Potter's rambling problem?
"He thinks you fancy Charlie," Hannah said, nearly blurting it out and looked guilty for having said anything.
"For Merlin's sake. I was asking for a friend!" Draco nearly roared his response and placed the sandwich on the counter. "Besides, I have a boyfriend, remember?"
"Right, of course." Hannah's face was turning red and she looked around as though she'd dropped an earring on the floor.
"Why does Potter care who I fancy anyway?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That you'll have to ask him." Hannah picked up her coat and left the room. Draco decided to stay in the Gryffindor Room alone and finish his lunch. His new task for himself was to come up with a word or phrase on top of the arched entryway to each of the Conference Rooms. He didn't want anyone thinking he'd put in more thought in decorating the Gryffindor room than anything else.
An hour later, Draco returned upstairs and found Hannah in Potter's office.
"Draco, come in here for a bit, I've got a question."
In the days that Draco had worked at Lonely Souvenirs, Draco had never been inside Potter's office. He hadn't been inside Hannah and Longbottom's suites either, but they usually left their door open and Draco could peek in. He never dared doing that to Potter's.
Draco slowly walked in as though he was entering into a territory he shouldn't be in, wasn't allowed in. As he walked in, he looked around the office and was staggered by the amounts of bookshelves that covered the walls, and wherever there wasn't a bookshelf, there were pictures. Not just of the Weasleys or his Hogwarts' mates, but of strange looking creatures that certainly were not found in wizarding UK.
"What do you think?" Hannah asked.
"Potter reads?" Draco asked, astounded at the vision of it all.
Hannah laughed. "Yeah, but I'm not asking about his office. This." Draco turned to look at her and she was holding two pieces of parchment with different calligraphy designs. "I asked Harry ages ago to pick a design but he still hasn't. Not surprising. What do you think? It's for our thank you cards."
Draco assessed both of the designs. They were simple but he couldn't think about that at the moment, he was still surprised by his inspection of the room. "Uh, the right one," he said, looking at one of the bookshelves and leaving Hannah to examine it.
"That's Harry's South America collection. He travelled in some Muggle villages and some wizarding ones just learning the culture."
"When did he have time to do that?" Draco wondered.
"We all take time off. It helps us refocus. We can't be all about the job all the time, we need a mental break." Hannah's voice was starting to fade away as Draco continued to look at the pictures of Potter in what looked like Brazil, or some other exotic country.
He saw a picture of a man with his arm wrapped around Potter and they were laughing as they looked at the camera. Draco frowned.
"Why did he come back?" Draco asked as he switched to another wall and looked at Potter in an Asian country. He thought about Theo and wondered if he was having as much fun as Potter looked like he did.
"He missed us, that poor lad. Every time he'd go off somewhere, he'd write to us, wishing we were there or next time we had to go with him. He said that as much fun as it was to travel, he wished he could share it with someone at the same time."
"Oh, he was just travelling, he wasn't working," Draco said dryly, trying to not think about how Theo hadn't written to him in weeks. Maybe it was months now.
"No, he was volunteering. He helped in a Muggle village, building huts that were ruined by some natural disaster, then—"
"What's going on?" Potter's voice startled Draco and he nearly screamed with alarm.
"Harry! Why are you back?" Hannah asked casually, as though she had done nothing wrong. Draco on the other hand, felt as though he'd been caught trespassing.
"Erm...I realised I didn't tell you what font calligraphy to use for the thank you cards," Potter said, looking at Draco with uncertainty.
"If it's alright with you, I think I'll call it a day." Draco looked at Hannah who nodded with confusion. "Potter." Draco curtly nodded at him and all but ran out the door.
When Draco reached his desk, Potter's office door was still open and he could hear the conversation between Potter and Hannah.
"Why did you really come back?" Hannah asked.
"I told you about the—the thing…" Potter sounded flustered.
"How's Charlie?" Hannah asked laughingly.
"Still straight," Potter replied.
Draco sighed. He really was the butt of the joke around there. At least he was appreciated for all the hard work he'd been doing for the company and that was rewarding enough, right? He collected his things to call it a night. In hopes to grab Chinese takeaway and sharing his meal with Max, Theo's cat, that probably hated him, Draco packed up his desk and took his leave.
That night Draco sat on his bed and wrote what he felt, while Max cuddled by his feet.
He thought about sharing it with the group at the next session. He'd make sure it was a session that Potter and Hannah didn't attend. He'd feel more open about sharing then.
I am a fool, I have been fooled by you.
I am sure you've made a fool of others, and I suppose that the number of fools you've made is far from being small
But I can't help but wonder, am I the biggest fool of them all?
The sad thing is,
Given the chance, I'd probably do it again.
I'd fall for you, and be made the fool
Knowing in the end, you will leave me again
It shouldn't surprise me at all
I am the biggest fool of them all.
"Am I a fool, Max?" Max purred and rubbed his back against Draco's feet. "Yeah, you're probably right."
0-0-0-0
When Draco arrived to work the next day, he was glad to know that he was alone. A few minutes of peace and quiet to gather himself, then he'd face the day. He approached his desk and saw a small box, wrapped in Christmas decorations, on his chair.
Happy Christmas, Draco - Love, Harry.
Draco wasn't sure what to think. He'd just seen Potter the day before. Was this why he'd come back to the office? To drop off a present for Draco.
Draco hesitantly opened the gift and found a beautifully carved wooden box. There was some writing on it, but it was in an Asian language Draco didn't understand. He immediately opened the box and found a wooden snitch that when he held in his hand, spluttered open; it's wings were multi-coloured. A small note was attached under the spot where the snitch rested.
I saw this in a wizarding village when I was in Nepal several years ago. I had immediately thought of you then, and our competitive streak. I'm glad that after all this time we are able to furnish a cordial relationship and more glad that I finally found a reason to give this to you. The wood is from a very old and Sacred Fig tree in Kathmandu called "peepal" and the wings are made of peacock feathers. I hope you like the present and know how much we all appreciate everything you're doing for us here at the Lonely Souvenirs.
Draco dropped onto his chair as he held his Christmas present from Potter. It was meaningful, genuine and for a moment, Draco wasn't sure he could breathe. Potter had thought of him years ago when they weren't even friends, and Draco couldn't help but compare it to Theo, who barely thought of him even as a boyfriend.
"Oh, you're here." Draco quickly placed his gift back in the box and straightened himself up when he heard Longbottom's voice. "You didn't have to come in so early."
"I just wanted to get started on the—on the—"
"Menu for the event?" Longbottom asked.
"Right. Just sending over the final list of items and the payment contract," Draco said.
"Brilliant job with the Gryffindor Room by the way, Hannah wouldn't stop talking about it." Longbottom smiled at Draco and approached his desk. "I see you got Harry's gift."
Draco didn't realise that he was still holding on to the box for dear life. "Right. It's very thoughtful."
"Well, Harry's a thoughtful bloke." Longbottom turned and headed off to his office. "If you want to take a quick break and get us some breakfast, feel free. Harry mentioned that you usually don't eat breakfast until you arrive."
Blimey, how much did Potter know about Draco?
"Right, then…"
"There's some Muggle money in Harry's office. There's a box on his desk." Draco was glad Longbottom didn't see the look on panic on Draco's face. Going into Potter's office again didn't seem all that ideal to Draco.
He opened the door slowly, still feeling as though he was intruding; he quickly ran to the desk, found a box labelled "Muggle cash" and got out a few quid and left the office as fast as he'd entered it. He still had his coat on, so he didn't need anything else and didn't exhale until he'd closed the doors to the Headquarters behind him.
Bloody hell.
Draco took his time going to and from the café with one coffee and one hot cocoa and two breakfast sandwiches. He didn't know what Longbottom liked, but he'd seen Potter order enough times to distinguish between what he and Hannah ate.
The rest of the day went by quietly, and Longbottom let Draco leave early.
"See you tonight," he said to Draco and Draco only became more anxious about the Christmas dinner at the Burrow.
0-0-0-0
Draco arrived at the Burrow with Pansy on his arm as she held onto a fruit cake for dear life and he carried two wine bottles in a lavishly decorated bag.
"Draco dear! It's so good to see you. How are you, Ms Parkinson?" Molly Weasley hugged both Draco and Pansy as she opened the door to the Weasley home. Pansy shrieked, and Draco was sure it was because she was afraid she'd drop the cake.
"Oh sorry, my dear," Molly said as she grabbed the fruit cake from Pansy's hands and handed it off to Ginny.
"Thank you again, for inviting us," Draco said politely as he entered the door and he knew that all eyes were on him and Pansy. Except not all of them were inquisitive or adjudicating. Hannah looked delightfully towards Draco and was the first one up to rush over to him and give him a hug.
"Pansy, I love your dress!" Ginny exclaimed as she greeted them next and pulled Pansy by her arm into the sitting room. Draco quietly followed. They removed their coats and Granger grabbed them to hang in the closet near the entryway. Draco's eyes were searching for Potter, who was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Charlie Weasley for that matter, Draco realised when he made eye contact with Pansy who looked curious.
"Thank you, you're very kind," Pansy answered politely, and Draco was impressed with her disposition.
"Hello, everyone," Charlie Weasley greeted the room as he ran downstairs and nodded at Draco, brushing past Pansy.
Pansy held Draco's arm and he felt her breath hitch for a moment.
"Just be cool," Draco joked with Pansy, earning himself a glare.
"Something the matter?" Ginny Weasley asked as she eyed Pansy's hand clutching onto Draco's shoulder.
"Not at all," Draco said. "Pansy just lost her balance for a second."
"Drinks?" Arthur Weasley asked as he walked into the room with two trays floating in air with wine and Firewhisky following. The first tray stopped floating in front of Pansy and Draco and they both grabbed a glass of red wine. "Sit!" Arthur Weasley commanded and everyone who was sitting on the sofas in the sitting room scooted to make room for the two guests.
"This is going to be a very long evening," Pansy whispered in Draco's ear and left his side as there were no two empty spots together.
Draco found a spot next to Charlie Weasley, and he saw Hannah and Longbottom exchange a look. Draco scowled and looked towards Pansy, making her realise that he'd preferred if she had chosen that seat instead. Pansy shrugged nervously and Draco gathered that she probably would be too edgy sitting next to the man she fancied.
Draco inadvertently sighed loudly which earned him an elbow nudge from Charlie Weasley.
"Something the matter, Malfoy?" Charlie asked quietly.
"Oh no, just...nerves," Draco answered, looking down at his drink.
"Yeah, it can all be a bit much," Charlie said and clinked his glass with Draco's. "I'd made the mistake of bringing a date over one time for Christmas dinner and she'd nearly well fainted with apprehension."
"Oh, so you're dating?" Draco asked, attempting to sound casual. "She didn't want to come again this year?"
"No, we're not together anymore. She thought my job was too dangerous and didn't want to be stuck with my family if something happened to me," Charlie joked or Draco thought he joked. "Do you think your friend Pansy is interested in dragons?"
Draco immediately raised an eyebrow with intrigue. "Yeah, she's definitely interested. You should see her tatt—"
"Malfoy." Potter's voice was unmistakable and Draco was on edge again. He'd almost forgotten about Potter during his conversation with Charlie Weasley and had begun to relax.
"Potter!" Draco stood up abruptly, spilling the wine on Potter's trousers. "Oh, fuck—shite—sorry!" Draco heard Pansy gasp and George Weasley burst out laughing.
Potter jumped back immediately as the glass hit the floor and quickly pulled out his wand to spell his trousers clean. He bent down to pick up the wine glass from the floor and when he stood up again, he smiled softly at Draco. "No worries, good thing I learned a certain cleaning charm in sixth year thanks to Hermione," Potter said and Draco gulped loudly. "I'll get you a new glass." Potter walked away from the group and towards the kitchen.
George Weasley was still laughing when Angelina jabbed her elbow in his ribs. He growled. "At least he didn't break his nose this time!"
Draco nearly well panicked at George Weasley's comment. He turned to look at Pansy who gestured for him to go after Potter and Draco did. When he entered the kitchen, he found Potter hunched over the counter staring down at the empty glass.
"Potter…" Draco whispered and a startled Potter looked up.
"Draco, I'm sorry," Potter said.
"You're sorry?" Draco asked, almost laughingly. "I spilled wine on your trousers…"
"...about my comment," Potter said, interrupting Draco. "I shouldn't have brought that—"
"Everything alright?" Draco sighed with relief when Charlie Weasley walked into the kitchen. "Pansy needs a refill," added Charlie and Draco smiled again.
"That's nice of you to offer to fill it for her," Draco said, grinning at Charlie.
"Yeah, and she didn't even have to spill it on me," Charlie answered. Draco blushed immediately and looked away from Charlie to Potter, who looked uncomfortable. "Having trouble opening another bottle, Harry?"
"No, it's fine—"
"What's taking so long?" Hannah announced as she entered the kitchen next. "You've left poor Pansy alone in with the rest of the Weasleys, I'm afraid—"
"I'll go," Draco said immediately and walked away from the kitchen. It was getting too crowded and too awkward for his own comfort and he reckoned he could use a company where Molly Weasley would dominate the conversation.
0-0-0-0
An hour later, they were seated around the dinner table. Pansy was on Draco's left and somehow Charlie Weasley had managed to sit on his right. He'd offered to switch seats with Pansy but she'd declined, stating she didn't want to seem desperate. Potter was sitting across from Draco, in between Ginny Weasley and Granger. Every time Draco would look up towards Potter, he'd catch Potter looking away; then Draco would turn to Pansy and she'd wink at him.
The safest bet had been to continue a conversation about the new discovery of dragon species with Charlie. Draco was having trouble concentrating on the topic and couldn't understand how Pansy was always so fascinated with it.
Ginny Weasley and Pansy had hit it off as well. They talked about Ginny's career with the Harpies and Ginny offered Pansy tickets to her next game, right after Pansy had offered to let Ginny borrow the dress she'd been wearing. Draco shook his head at Pansy, who was managing to get along well enough with the Weasley sister and the future sister-in-law. He supposed that she'd have to start somehow if she was to eventually get in the good graces with Charlie. If only it were that easy to get in the good graces with Potter.
After dinner, all the Weasley men and Potter went upstairs to change into their holiday sweaters while Draco and Hannah sat by the fire sipping Firewhisky.
"The dinner was wonderful, wasn't it?" Hannah asked and Draco nodded. "You and Charlie seem to be getting along well," she added.
"I'm just keeping an eye out for—" Draco gestured his head towards Pansy who was playing a game of snakes and ladders with Molly, Ginny, and Granger. Hannah squealed and the four women looked over at Hannah and Draco. "Shh!" Draco demanded. "She'll kill me, if she finds out I told anyone."
"So you're not interested in Charlie?" Hannah asked in a whisper, still gleaming like a schoolgirl.
Draco rolled his eyes and curtly shook his head. "Besides, he's straight!" he said and took a sip of his drink.
"And your boyfriend?"
Draco groaned lowly. "I still haven't heard from him."
When everyone gathered in the room again, Hannah left Draco's side and went to speak with Longbottom. Draco hoped that she wouldn't divulge the information about Pansy's crush to her husband. Draco also looked over to Potter and found himself annoyed at the fact that Potter looked rather endearing in a giant orange sweater with the letter "H" on it.
Potter came by and sat next to Draco as Charlie joined the women for the next game.
"Potter, I didn't get a chance to thank you…" Draco paused as Potter looked up at him and Draco found himself getting lost in Potter's eyes.
"Yeah?" Potter said, smiling and Draco bit his lower lip with nerviness. "Don't do that—" His eyes narrowed on Draco's face.
"Do what?"
"What were you thanking me about?"
"Oh, right. The Christmas present. It was really thoughtful—and I...erm...really liked it," Draco mumbled his words as his eyes glanced down to Potter's hand that was holding his knee really tightly. "And sorry I spilled the wine on you," Draco added.
Potter laughed. "It's really okay, Draco." He smiled softly. "And, you're welcome."
Potter looked at Draco, as though he was expecting Draco to say something else. Or perhaps, it was Potter who wanted to say something more. They stared at each other quietly, and Draco knew something between them had shifted. He wasn't sure what it was yet, but he could feel it. He wanted nothing more than to reach towards Potter and pull him into a kiss. Draco hadn't wanted someone so much for a while, and not since he'd had Theo, but everything about the past few weeks had been so intense. He'd barely thought of Theo, until someone had brought him up in conversation. Draco wondered whether or not it really was time to move on. Maybe not with Potter, but to move on in general.
"Draco," Pansy called out his name gently and Draco was awoken from his thoughts again. He looked up at her and she was looking at him worriedly. "I think it's time to leave—"
Potter stood up from his chair. "Oh you can't leave yet, we haven't—"
"No she's right," Draco said. "It's getting late, and we should go."
0-0-0-0
When Draco and Pansy arrived at Draco's flat, Pansy didn't wait for them to fully Apparate before having a go at him.
"Draco, what are you doing?"
"What do you mean?" Draco knew what Pansy meant, but he didn't know how to put the words to what he'd been feeling.
"He's Potter!"
"I know. I think I'm in love with him."
"Well, that much is obvious," Pansy said, removing her coat and throwing it at Draco's sofa. "What are you going to do about Theo?"
"I think I'm going to write to him tomorrow and—"
"And what?" Pansy marched over to Draco's kitchen and found a bottle of wine he'd been hiding in the far cabinet. "I hope your letter is going to tell him that you think he's a wanker and that you should have dumped his arse six months ago!"
"But…" Draco hesitated.
"But what?" Pansy snapped as she corkscrewed the wine bottle open, nearly spilling it on her dress.
"Do you think Potter likes me?"
Pansy slammed the bottle down on the table, perhaps a bit more fiercely than she had intended. The noise of the bottle hitting the glass had Max running away from her and into the bathroom. She sank down on the sofa and sighed. "Draco, you should really end things with Theo before you start obsessing over someone else…" She paused for a brief moment to pour the wine in the two glasses.
"Breaking up is hard to do…"
"Think of all you've been put through. And you just said that you think you love Potter! Why are you putting yourself through more anguish about someone who isn't even here? He hasn't even been here in ages!"
Draco knew she was right. He slouched on the sofa next to her and they sipped the wine in silence. Eventually, the mood was lifted when Draco brought up Charlie in conversation and Pansy's face lit up. Draco was happy that Charlie had showed interest in Pansy and he was looking forward to her finding her happiness.
Draco was also thankful that Hannah had managed to grant Draco the day off on Boxing Day. He wouldn't have to worry about seeing Potter again, and he could think about writing his letter to Theo.
0-0-0-0
The next day when Pansy left after breakfast, Draco sat up on his bed with a quill and parchment to write his letter. He realised after everything that had happened, he really didn't have much to say. When he thought of the loneliness and the heartache Theo had put him through, Draco only cried over the parchment.
Dear Theo,
I have been denying myself the pleasure of my own company, hoping you'd return and fill the gap. I've only just realised that the hole in my heart isn't going to be filled by you, and that I was using you as an excuse to find something that I need to find on my own. I hope this letter finds you well and I wish you all the best in your latest adventure. You'll always have a special place in my heart but it's time for me to find my own happiness and not rely on something that simply hasn't been there.
Take care,
Draco.
Draco determined that it was time to stop being the fool.
The next day before heading to work, Draco stopped by the International Owlery in Diagon Alley to send off the letter to Theo. He felt better and knew that now there was no turning back. He was done with Theo. Now when Draco was lonesome, his heart no longer beat for someone that hadn't been there for a very long time.
He felt surprisingly chipper and decided to pop over to Trident before heading to Headquarters and bought coffee and hot cocoa for everyone. The party was only four days away and he still had a lot of work to do!
0-0-0-0
The four days went by in a blur and the night of the party arrived. Draco reached the Lonely Souvenirs at six o'clock and met up with Hannah and Ginny Weasley, who'd volunteered to help. The first guests for the party were the Weasleys, who arrived promptly at nine o'clock. Then the other guests began to trickle in slowly, but Pansy was nowhere to be seen.
Eventually, it was half past eleven and Pansy still hadn't arrived.
Draco was getting more nervous by the minute. He'd hoped that when the clock struck midnight and everyone cheered, he'd at least have his best friend by his side.
"Draco," Hannah came rushing into the kitchen as Draco was refilling the punch. "Pansy is outside—she's asked for you." Hannah's tone was hushed and Draco didn't understand. He looked at her strangely for a moment and she didn't say anything else. Rolling his eyes, he headed outside. Pansy was most likely freaking out about her outfit in hopes of impressing Charlie Weasley.
"Pansy, what is your—?" Draco swung the main door open and saw an apprehensive Pansy standing next to a grinning...Theo? "What—what are you doing here?" Draco asked, turning to Theo, then glancing back at Pansy.
"Pansy wouldn't let me in... She said I had to talk to you out here."
Pansy nodded at Draco, her eyes indicating the need to know if Draco was alright. "Thanks, Pans. It's cold out here, why don't you head in?" Pansy took her leave immediately and Draco turned towards Theo again. He was holding a ridiculously large bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates that Draco had once claimed were his favourites because he knew Theo liked them.
"Still doesn't answer my question," Draco said disdainfully. "Where have you been? I haven't heard from you in months. I sent you a Christmas present in November hoping that you'd have the decency to at least write me a thank you—"
"I know, I've been thinking…"
"I've lost interest in your thoughts," Draco answered, cutting Theo off.
"Draco, is everything—" If things couldn't get any worse, Potter walked in. "Oh, hello, Nott."
"Potter, I hear you're having a party."
"Yeah it's for our comp—"
"Theo was just leaving," Draco announced, cutting everyone off.
"I can't come in?" Theo asked, sounding shocked.
"No." Draco turned and looked at Potter, whose eyes met Draco's. How Draco wished Potter would just take him in his arms and shoo Theo away.
"I haven't got anywhere to go. You've changed the locks and the wards," Theo whined.
"I'm aware," Draco replied. "And I'm keeping Max, too." Draco hung his head low, before determining himself to go inside. He nodded at Potter, who walked in first, then Draco followed.
Unfortunately, Theo followed them as well.
"Draco, I've changed. I promise!" Theo all but screamed at the top of his voice and the entire party came to a halt. Everyone turned to look at them.
Draco sighed exasperatedly and turned to look at Theo, who was now on one knee. "Draco, I've come to make amends. I really have. I want us to start fresh, I'll give you anything you want." He placed the flowers next to him on the floor and reached into his trousers pocket.
No! Draco screamed in his head. A few of the attendees gasped. One older lady squealed.
"Marry me!"
Draco stared at the ring that was in the box that Theo held. It was your generic, classic cut, wizard's engagement ring that had been in Theo's family for generations. Draco remembered that they had once talked about marriage when they were together, and Draco had very deliberately expressed that he did not want a pure-blood traditional engagement ring or wedding bands. After all this time, claiming he'd changed, Theo had done the exact thing Draco didn't care for. He remembered the box he'd received not a week ago from Potter—the one with the wooden snitch. Draco realised in that moment that he would rather spend a lifetime waiting for Potter, in hopes that he'd look at him the way he'd always wanted to be looked at, than spend another moment linked with Theo.
"That's enough show, Nott," Draco said decisively, his heart tugging at him the moment he uttered Nott. "I pray that you stop wasting these people's time and let them enjoy the party. There's no need to create a show with your fake hopelessness."
Draco left the room and ran towards the employee lounge. The moment he arrived there, he Apparated upstairs to his desk—crashing on the chair, tears pouring down. He felt hopeless.
Moments later, Draco heard faint footsteps. He sighed, it was probably Hannah or worse, Potter, coming to sack him. "Everything okay?" It was Potter.
"Not exactly, you saw what happened." Draco didn't turn from his desk. He was afraid to face Potter, show him his puffy reddened eyes and flushed cheeks.
Potter chuckled. "It was kind of hard to miss."
"Merlin!" Draco buried his face in his hands and breathed deeply for a few seconds. "Listen, Potter. I understand if you want to sack me, but can I just stay here for a while? At least until the party's over."
"Sack you?" Potter said, and Draco felt Potter's heavy and warm hand on his back. "The Prophet is having a field day with what they saw. They're downstairs interviewing your man."
Draco sighed. "He's not my man. He hasn't been my man for a while now." Potter was now slowly rubbing his hand on Draco's back, trying to soothe him, he was sure, except it was turning Draco on.
"So you're really not going to let me go?" Draco looked up and Potter's face was mere inches away from Draco's.
"No, I'm not going to let you go," Potter said as he bit his lower lip. "I'm sorry you're hurting, Draco. But I'm not sorry that he's not your man anymore." And before Draco could say anything, Potter's lips were on Draco's. His hands pulled Draco up into his embrace and Draco was all but putty in Potter's arms.
That's when Draco realised, this is what he'd always wanted. Not some grand gesture, not bouquets of flowers and a show to tell for ages. He wanted a man who brought him hot cocoa, knew what sandwich he liked; someone who cared for Draco the way Draco could care for him.
Potter's hands travelled down to Draco's thigh and pulled him up; Draco wrapped his legs around Potter. Draco's hand were in Potter's hair, tugging onto the locks as Potter grabbed Draco's bum and was massaging him at the same time he was tussling with Draco's tongue. Draco moaned into Potter's mouth, around his tongue, his erection pressing against Potter's stomach and he could feel Potter's heat pressing onto his own leg.
"I know that you're really vulnerable right now…" Potter began to speak as he was slowly stopping his caress.
"Your office, Potter. Now!" Draco commanded, interrupting whatever chivalrous thing Potter was going to utter.
"Oh. Okay…" Potter held Draco tightly as he tried to stumble his way into his office, slamming the door behind them.
Then Draco's back was against the door and he was thrusting towards Potter's erection and Potter was struggling with his hands, as though he was trying to decide which part of Draco to grab first.
Draco wrestled with Potter's tie and his blazer, trying to take all the pieces of clothing off at the same time. The clothes couldn't come off fast enough and he kept getting distracted by Potter rubbing his erection on Draco.
"Clothes, Potter," Draco said and Potter stopped doing what he was doing and began unbuttoning his shirt and then his trousers. Draco missed Potter's touch instantly and cursed himself for telling Potter to do something else.
After Potter managed to take off his trousers, he wrapped Draco's legs around his waist again. Draco felt a heat rise inside his stomach, a fire of longing and need that he hadn't felt in a very long time; unsure if he had ever felt it for Theo.
"Wait! My wand," Potter exclaimed as he managed to grab it off the floor and conjured up something slick in his hand and spread it on his cock. Draco felt Potter's finger, wet and slick enter him.
"Bloody hell, Potter," Draco moaned as he pushed down on the finger, trying to support himself with the door and tightened his grip around Potter's waist. Then Potter inserted another finger and Draco lost almost all control. He gripped Potter's shoulders, squeezing tightly, digging his nails into Potter's skin. "More…" he said and Potter laughed. "Fuck, Potter. More!" Draco demanded and Potter was now sliding four fingers in and out of Draco's greedy hole. That's what he'd called it anyway.
Potter abruptly removed his fingers and lined his cock against Draco's entrance before Draco had a chance to complain. He pushed himself in, without warning, without waiting for permission and continued to push in until Draco released a satisfying moan.
Draco loved that Potter didn't hesitate. It made him want Potter even more.
"You feel so incredible, Draco," Potter whispered as he thrust into Draco, having diminished almost all the distance between their bodies and his face was buried in Draco's neck. "Gods, I have wanted you for so fucking long…"
Merlin! Potter swearing as he fucked Draco was making him breathless. He was glad that his legs were already up in the air because he was sure that he'd have lost all feelings in his knees listening to Potter talk.
"You have?" Draco managed to ask as his own cock was being squeezed in between their bodies.
"Do you know how hard it is to see you every day and want nothing but to push you against the wall? Kiss you, touch you… I've been going mad, Draco." Potter had increased his speed and he was pushing in and out of Draco hastily. Draco's back kept on slamming against the door, and he was sure that they were making more noise than was necessary.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Draco asked as he tugged on Potter's hair with his hand, earning himself another moan.
"Because, I thought…I thought…" Potter pulled out and pushed in again, as if he was punishing Draco. "I thought you liked Charlie…"
"I don't fucking like Charlie!" Draco roared as he pulled on Potter's hair with both hands and rode him into an orgasm. "I wanted to fuck you, Potter." Potter was spilling into him, and Draco was still riding him, balancing himself most properly against the door and grinding onto Potter's cock. "Is this clear enough for you?"
Potter eventually pulled out and Draco straightened up, grabbing his erection with his hand when Potter yanked it away. "Let me," he said and dropped to his knees, taking Draco's cock in his mouth. Draco couldn't count to ten before he came, spilling in Potter's mouth and Potter managed to suck and lick every part of him.
Draco pulled Potter up by his hair and kissed him, wrapping his leg around Potter, pulling him deeper in the kiss. "Now, what did we learn today?" he asked, still annoyed about the comment regarding Charlie.
"Nott's a wanker," Potter said, and Draco immediately burst into laughter against Potter's lips.
"Besides that..." Potter shrugged, kissing Draco's ear, then his neck, eventually sucking on his collarbone. "That you should have tried to shag me the moment you realised you wanted to. Then I wouldn't have to spend a whole week anguishing over my feelings...and the bloody misconception that I fancied a Weasley."
"I couldn't have tried to shag you when I first realised I wanted to…" Potter said, plainly.
"Why not?" Draco asked, pushing Potter away and grabbing his clothes in efforts to get dressed.
"That would have been the day you came in for the interview," Potter replied, earning himself a gasp from Draco. "I wanted to take you on that chair you were sitting on, rip those fancy robes right off you!"
Draco couldn't believe the words he was hearing. Potter, was dirty.
"You know how you thought you were the last candidate for the job because I hated you?" Draco nodded, annoyed that apparently no one at Lonely Souvenirs knew how to keep a secret. "It was because after years of dealing with my animosity, I'd come to realise that the reason I hated you so much was because I wanted you. I wanted your loathing, tainted, miserable self—"
"Tell me how you really feel."
Potter chuckled. "—and when I realised that you'd changed into someone so much better, I only wanted you more."
"Potter, you're really fucked up, you know that?" Draco said, buttoning up his trousers and fixing Potter's collar as he buttoned himself up.
"Not more fucked up than someone who's just shagged another bloke in his office after rejecting a marriage proposal from his long-term boyfriend." Potter mock-gasped at his little retort, looking mighty proud of himself when Draco tightened Potter's tie too tight, nearly choking him.
"So what you're saying is—"
"We belong together." Potter licked his lips and smiled right before kissing Draco again. Draco pushed Potter off because he knew that if he didn't, they'd never make it back downstairs. He opened the door and left Potter's office as Potter followed him.
"So when you go travelling again…"
"You better come with me."
"If you insist."
"And Draco?"
"Yeah?"
"I want you to list me as an Emergency Contact." Draco turned to look at Potter wide-eyed. "I just noticed that you only had two listed—" Draco leaned in to kiss Potter again before walking any further.
By the time Potter and Draco arrived downstairs, Theo was nowhere to be seen and Draco let out a breath of relief. The clock struck midnight and everyone cheered. From the corner of his eye, Draco spotted Pansy; she was snogging Charlie Weasley.
"Finally!" Draco huffed and pulled on Potter's arm to make him look in the same direction.
"I was wrong," Potter said, as though the light inside his mind had just turned on.
"Bloody hell, Potter!" Draco rolled his eyes. Potter still hadn't believed that he wasn't interested in Charlie?
"Happy New Year, Draco." Potter smiled and pulled Draco in for a New Year's kiss. The crowd cheered again and Draco wasn't sure if it was for a continuation of the celebrations or for them.
He wondered who had won the bet that night.
The End.
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