CHAPTER 9
Gods how he hated Umbridge Jr! He had never had any particular fondness of the little lady. In fact, she was one of the few people who treated Harry as an equal, and not as some great person. He was glad about that and hoped to befriend her when he first became an Auror. That didn't happen; nor would it ever happen. After his little encounter with Malfoy, and after the interruption to that wonderful conversation, he loathed her even more. She was an Umbridge in the making. Even as he sat to do the dreaded paperwork, he mumbled, swearing and cursing the lady in ways Mrs. Weasley wouldn't approve. As he did the bloody paperwork, his thoughts drifted from Umbridge Jr (no point cursing her. It wouldn't change her, he thought rationally.) to Malfoy. Just the name 'Malfoy' made his heart beating faster. He had spoken to him, and when their conversation was rudely forced to end, he had asked Malfoy out to coffee on a whim and he had accepted! Harry's day was definitely going to become better.
He hunched over his table and cast a Silencing Charm around his desk. He would never get the work done on time if he wasn't surrounded in silence. That was the main problem. The floor was always noisy that he couldn't concentrate properly in his paperwork. That's why it was always late, but Umbridge jr never took that particular reason as an excuse for paperwork. So, Harry spent his time concentrating hard and trying to write as neatly as possible without any smudges or blots. Another wonderful feature of Umbridge jr – she couldn't stand messy handwriting. And so he sat for two hours with a mug of coffee within his reach and carefully written pieces of parchment all over his desk. After two hours, he went to the AO café for lunch. He had (more likely gobbled because he wanted to complete the paperwork) a sandwich and some salad before going back to work. By five, he had miraculously finished his paperwork and had handed it to one of the floor's assistant. He Apparated to Grimmauld Place and quickly freshened up and stood in front of his wardrobe. What am I going to wear? He thought. He was going to meet MALFOY for heaven's sake! And he had to impress him. He didn't have many robes; just two. The remaining of his robes were his work clothes. Muggle clothes it is then, he thought, as he pulled out a pair of jeans and a button down shirt.
Once he got ready, he looked at himself in the mirror and tried to tame his hair. Which of course was a vain attempt. Sighing, he scrutinized himself in the mirror. Casual, yet somewhat formal. Should do for today. He checked his watch. Nearly six. He cast one final glance at his reflection in the mirror, and Apparated to the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron for his rendezvous with Draco Malfoy.
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Draco couldn't concentrate on his report. His mind just kept on replaying the conversation he had had with Harry. You're going to meet him again later on today. You can meet Potter whenever you want, but what is more important to you? The job or remembering your encounter with Potter? The rational part of his brain argued. Draco sighed and agreed with his rational part of his brain. He pushed all thoughts of Harry out of his mind and concentrated in sifting through the notes he had taken during the Trials. The Trial was very interesting and all the evidence was very intriguing. He loved the way the lawyers were debating and how the Wizengamot heard everything and pin pointed minute details that may have changed the sentence. Personally, Draco preferred to be lawyer. He wanted to do what he couldn't do during the War; save innocent people from a terrible fate. Draco prided himself in his mastery of self control and determination. But that day, he could feel his determination waver a bit, because that encounter with Harry was fresh in his mind. Once he finished his report, he sighed. It wasn't his usually blot and smudge free report; this one contained a few smudges, but it couldn't be helped. Looks like he needed to gain new mastery over his self control and determination, because Harry seemed to break Draco's elite etiquettes. He completed his report, the rough and the fair one in approximately two hours. He had taken a break and had made himself some lunch and a cup of coffee in between when he felt his stomach rumble with hunger. Coffee always helped him concentrate, and thankfully, it worked that time too and he could push almost all thoughts about Harry out of his mind. He read a book on Magical Law for a while after carefully packing his report and owling it to his in-charge. Now all he had to do was not become a mass of bumbling nerves by six. Reading failed, so he went for a hot shower. Hot showers always calmed him down for some reason, and he felt much relaxed after showering. A frown flitted across his face; he had NOTHING to wear for his date! Draco loved to wear Muggle clothing; they were much more comfortable than robes. Robes tended to be too breezy for him, but he owned a few robes too, along with Muggle clothes. "Muggle clothes it is." Draco decided. Harry had to know that he had changed. Once he was ready, he checked the clock on his mantel place. Nearly six. "It's good manners to always be on time," he thought to himself, "even if one may turn up earlier than necessary."
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The Apparition point to the Leaky Cauldron was an alley near the famous pub cum restaurant. Harry had just Apparated there, when another figure appeared almost simultaneously next to him; a figure with blonde hair so pale and soft looking that he could feel his hands itching to feel the locks and decided whether they were as soft as they appeared to be. It was Draco, of course and he was wearing… Muggle clothing? Harry was bewildered. Draco Malfoy in casual Muggle clothing was not acceptable at all, mainly because he had to do his best to not pounce on him right that instant. Draco looked stunned, but only for an instant and then, he wore his usual smirk. "Well, I would have NEVER expected Harry Potter to show up in time, and by the looks of my watch EARLY for a meeting! You seem to stun me all the time!" he said teasingly. Harry blushed. "Auror training." He mumbled. His smirk grew. "How does 'Auror training' explain something that I thought wasn't possible even in my wildest dreams?" Oh Draco, there are SO many situations that I can think of that wouldn't happen in your wildest dreams, but they all include me and you, he thought miserably. He cleared his throat and gestured Draco to walk into the restaurant. "The first thing I was taught in Auror training was to be on time for anything. It was embarrassing, that first introduction to Auror training because the trainer lectured on punctuality just when I entered the class ten minutes late. So, public embarrassment apparently taught me a good lesson." He explained. Draco's smirk changed into a grin as he sat down at a table. After a few seconds, Draco started chuckling. "What?" Harry asked, feeling a bit cross and embarrassed. "Oh nothing. I was just remembering how red you used to go when Snape snubbed you. I was just wondering whether you would've gone that red on your first day of Auror training." He said, still chuckling. Harry felt his face burn. "Looks like I don't need to imagine when I have a live view of what would've happened that day." He said teasingly with a smirk. This comment made Harry even more red. "Can we change the topic?" Harry asked, squirming in his seat. "Why? Because the Boy Who Lived has a tendency to show red?" Harry flushed again.
They spent quite a long time together, eating and talking about their lives. Harry didn't mention anything about Ginny. Let him think that I am single, he thought. He learnt all about Draco's life after the War (he had thanked him once again for his testimony) and about how hard he worked for a job in the Ministry to establish some respect for his family again. Now that Draco wasn't as snobbish and stuck-up as he was during Hogwarts, Harry realized just how good his company was. He cracked good jokes and teased him lightly, always wearing a playful smirk whenever he did so. He now regretted rejecting Draco's friendship when he first met him.
After having dessert, they decided to call it a day. "You know what, Draco?" Harry said as he shrugged into his coat. "It was actually fun today." "Yeah, it was. And thank you for sponsoring my food. I try to save every Knut possible." Malfoy said. Once they entered the darkness of the Apparition alley, Harry couldn't see Draco's face; it was dark. But he could see the glint in his grey eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't accept your friendship when we first met. I really liked spending time with you and I would like to meet you again." It came out in a rush. Harry had never planned to say all that. God, he was so stupid! Instead of the expected condescending look, Draco's eyes softened. "It's alright, Harry. How about we start again? I am Draco Malfoy, and I would like to be your friend." He said, holding out a slim, pale hand that seemed to glow in the moonlight. "Hi, Draco, I'm Harry, Harry Potter and I would love to be your friend. How about you come over to my house for lunch this Saturday?" he said, grasping the outstretched hand. Draco smiled. "I would love that." He whispered, before taking back his hand and Disapparating.
Harry could still feel the softness of Draco's palm lingering on his skin. He stood there in the darkness, lost in thought, before he Apparated back to Grimmauld Place.