Chapter 5

Harry acceded to Ginny's demands to have lunch with her and fill her in on the non-existent 'juicy details' of his (currently) non-existent love life with Draco. He decided to tell her the entire story and that meant recounting how much of an arse he was after the war when he beat Draco half to death after he had apologized to him. His conscience still squirmed whenever he played that moment back in his head but the heavy feeling of guilty no longer overwhelmed him.

Ginny listened attentively as Harry recounted their short lived 'romance.' Not that there was any at the moment, Harry thought to himself bitterly.

Harry's story ended with the confirmation that Draco was indeed gay. He tried his best to suppress his rumbling chest monster at the mental image of Draco and Oliver together which resulted in an odd at awkward face.

"You really like him don't you?" Ginny finally asked with a soft laugh.

Harry nodded. Ginny smiled. "When we were younger and I was still holding on to the hope that what you were going through was just a phase and that we would get our happy ending someday I felt extremely jealous about the amount of time and effort you put into watching Malfoy and following him around. I never really understood what it was all about until now. He's always been able to get to you whether you liked it or not."

It was Harry's turn to laugh. "You sound like Ron."

Ginny laughed again. "Glad to know that my brother has his brilliant moments sometimes."

They grinned at each other and somehow their conversation naturally drifted off to more mundane and light hearted topics. At some point in their conversation and their meal Ginny excused herself to go to the ladies' room.

A few moments after her fiery red head disappeared from Harry's line of sight another equally recognizable head entered into the establishment.

"Draco!" Harry waved him over.

He turned towards Harry and gave him a dazzling smile. He walked over to Harry's table. They exchanged pleasantries and Harry ended up asking Draco to join him.

"I would lo—" Draco's reply was cut off by Ginny's return.

"Hi Malfoy, I didn't know you were joining us today?" She smiled at him.

Draco's expression tightened almost imperceptibly but he still maintained his smile. "I wouldn't want to intrude." He said his voice sounding odd.

"You aren't." Ginny assured him. "I insist you join us." She said pointedly.

"Alright then." Harry couldn't help but notice how Draco's smile changed, it was still charming and brilliant but somehow it had lost some of its warmth.

Lunch turned out to be a vaguely awkward and extremely polite affair with the three of them sitting around one table. Draco was being oddly reserved, more than the usual and Harry could unexplained tension in the air. He was never really good at reading between the lines but his instincts and observations about how people felt was spot on.

After they finished their meal and settled their bill Ginny said. "Harry be a dear and fetch my coat for me please." She said sweetly and yet the glint in her eye told Harry that she was perhaps up to something. Harry finding no valid reason to refuse trotted off to it.

He fetched them quickly and went back to where the blonde and the red head stood. He was flabbergasted at the sudden change. Draco was once again relaxed and smiling, even more radiantly than before. Harry sent Ginny a pointed look as he handed her his coat, a look which Ginny laughed at in response.

She donned her coat and said. "You owe me another one Harry." She said enigmatically with a Weasley grin that would have made her brothers proud.

"Well I'll be off. I've got errands to run and practice to get back to." She said cheerfully as she made her move to leave. She gave Harry a hug and began to walk away.

Harry was surprised when Draco reached for her arm to gently stop her. He gave her a hug and whispered "Thank you."

Harry watched the exchange totally confused.

"Harry be a dear and fetch my coat for me please." Ginevra said to Harry. There was a pregnant pause between the Gryffindor pair before Harry complied with the request.

"Malfoy." Ginevra started. "Harry's a little dense but that doesn't mean Gryffindors are."

Draco tilted his head to the side, unsure of what to make of her statement. "I don't understand." He admitted.

"I think you've misunderstood the relationship between Harry and me. We're not together."

"Wha-" Draco began to deny but Ginevra cut him off.

"Harry is interested in someone but it is definitely not me. Someone blonder perhaps?" She said with a mischievous smile.

Realization dawned on Draco. Could it be? A hopeful voice inside his head chimed in.

A warm feeling once again fluttered in Draco's stomach, spreading through his body and culminating with a smile that threatened to split his face in half. He could hear his father's voice in his head telling him that such a foolish love sick expression was unbecoming of a Malfoy but he still couldn't help it.

"But don't take my word for. Go after him." She said quickly as a Harry was fast approaching with her coat in hand.

They said their good byes and Draco debated with himself briefly before reaching out to touch her arm.

He pulled her into a hug and whispered a quiet 'thank you.' He squeezed her gently before letting her go. Draco never thought he would see the day when admit to himself that maybe there are more to Weasleys than their red hair and freckles and thank merlin for that.