It was sad watching Harry parting with Sirius; Draco knew how much Harry cared for Sirius, and Sirius for Harry. But he knew that summer was going to come faster than any one knew. But it was time they got back to school where life seemed to become normal once more for Draco, Harry, and their friends. With Mr. Weasley out of the hospital and knowing that Harry was going to get the help he needed to detain these dreams (despite the fact that they were with Snape), there was only one thing Draco had to worry about; Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day marks the two months Harry and Draco have been together, and Draco wasn't sure if Harry was expecting them to do anything or not. Whether Harry was expecting it or not, Draco wanted to do something special. He knew that a Hogsmeade trip fell on that day. Maybe he would see if Harry wanted to go there. There had to be some special something happening in the village for couples to do.

Later that day, Draco found Harry, Ron, and Hermione in an unused classroom, practicing Defense Against the Dark Arts. Draco knew they often did this because they weren't allowed to use magic in their real DADA class with that Umbridge woman as a teacher. He softly knocked on the door before entering. They three of them looked up as he entered the room; they looked startled before they realized who it was.

"Hey, sorry if I scared you guys," Draco said, sitting on top one of the desks in the far corner where they were practicing.

"No problem, we're just glad you weren't a teacher," Hermione said, stowing her wand I her robe pocket.

"What's up?" Harry asked, hoping on the desk next to Draco.

"Nothing much, just wanted to talk to you for a second. But it can wait until you guys are done." Draco said, for he had nothing better to do anyway.

"I think we are done for the day anyway," Ron said, stowing his wand away as well. "I really need to get started on that Charms essay."

"You mean the one that's due tomorrow?" Hermione asked, looking at Ron incredulously. "Ron, that essay has to be ten pages long!"

"Well, you try writing even three pages on how we helped during the Goblin Rebellion! It's not easy!"

"I have! I've written twelve pages, in fact!" Hermione said, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.

"Course you have," Ron said, irritated.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Come on," Harry said, hoping off the desk, "it's best if we just leave them at it." Draco hopped off the desk as well as they left the room to a bickering Ron and Hermione.

"So when are they going to start dating?" Draco asked as he and Harry headed out on to the grounds. "I mean, it's pretty obvious that they both really like each other."

"Of course they do! But they are both too stubborn to admit it to each other," Harry said. "It's rather annoying, really."

Draco chuckled, looking ahead of him. They were both quiet for a moment or two. It wasn't until they pasted the Whomping Willow that Draco spoke up.

"Speaking of dating, I was just thinking that we technically haven't had a first date yet," Draco said, giving harry a sideways glance.

"This is true," Harry said, nodding in agreement. He glanced Draco, who had already looked away.

"So I was thinking, well, Hogsmeade is coming up soon –" Draco started.

"On Valentine's Day. I saw on the notice board this morning," Harry said, sounding excited.

"Right. Well, I was thinking maybe we could do something for it. You know, make an official date, or something." Draco said, stopping at the water's edge. They were quiet once more, watching the small, rippling waves.

"Seeing as it's our two month as well, I think making it our first official date would be perfect." Harry said after a moment.

"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. So you definitely want to do something, then?" Draco asked, looking at Harry.

"Of course!" Harry said, smiling in excitement. "What did you have in mind?" Draco gave an embarrassed smile, shrugging his shoulders. Harry laughed. "Just thought of the idea huh? We'll figure something out! Even if we just walk around together!"

Draco smiled, happy that Harry was so easily pleased. He really didn't seem to be good at date planning. He grabbed Harry's hand and they continued to walk, discussing Quidditch, upcoming exams, and betting how much longer it will talk before Hermione and Ron confess their feelings for each other.

Valentine's Day turned out to be a very beautiful day to go into the village. There was an excitement in the air as everyone was queuing up at the doors, waiting for the all clear to go. Draco didn't realize just how many couples there were in the school until he saw quite a number of people holding hands, him and Harry included. Although Draco and Harry didn't generally display their affection for each other (not that they had a problem with it) today was a day they didn't care; they ignored the few people who still insisted on pointing and shaking their heads at them. Again, Draco didn't care, and neither did Harry. They waited, hand in hand, as the line slowly shrank as they were let out of the castle and to the lane that would led them to the village.

"So what did you want to do first?" Harry asked as they entered the village.

"I was thinking that we could get some lunch, or maybe some coffee if you aren't hungry right now." Draco suggested.

"We ate breakfast two hours ago, so a coffee sounds good," Harry said, smiling at his boyfriend's never ending appetite. Hands still interlocked, they headed over to The Three Broomsticks, where there were surprised to see it nearly empty.

"Wow! I don't ever remember ever seeing this place so dead before," Harry said, looking around the nearly pub. There were two other couples in the back of the pub and an old maid covered in a long black veil sitting near the door.

"Why don't you grab us a table and I'll get the coffees?" Draco suggested. Harry nodded and went to find a table while Draco went up to the counter. "Good afternoon, Madame Rosemerta," Draco said, watching the barmaid cleaning some of the glasses.

"Good afternoon, young man," Madame Rosemerta said, putting down the glasses and giving Draco a cheerful smile. "What can I get for you, m'dear?"

"Can I just get two coffees, please?" Draco asked, taking out a few Sickles and handing them over. Madame Rosemerta nodded her head, fetching the two coffees. Draco turned his back to the bar, looking around for where Harry was sitting. Just as he spotted his boyfriend, the gamekeeper – Hagrid – had entered the bar. He spotted Harry and went over to him. Draco sighed; he was hopping this day could be reserved for just him and Harry, and no other interruptions.

"Here you are, m'dear!" Madame Rosemerta handed two coffees to Draco. He thanked her and slowly made his way to where Harry was, as to not spill their drinks.

"That's very kind of you Hagrid, but I'm actually on a date right now," Harry was saying rather stonily as Draco made his way to them.

"Got the coffees," Draco said, placing the coffees gently on the table. Harry smiled at Draco as he took the seat opposite him. Draco smiled back. They both looked up at Hagrid, who just ignored Draco and gave Harry a rather stony look.

"I see. Well, do' let meh impede on yer date. I'll see ya 'round." And with that said, he walked out of the Three Broomsticks, without getting his usual bucket of mead.

"That was awkward," Harry said, grabbing his coffee and some sugar that was on the table.

"I'll say. Still doesn't trust me, does he?" Draco asked casually, drinking his coffee black.

"Not really, no. Every time I go to mention something funny you said or did, he always quickly changes the subject." Harry said, taking a sip of his coffee. Draco gave an annoyed sigh, rolling his eyes and looking down into his coffee. Harry noted the change of mood. "But hey, let's not talk about that!" Harry reached across the table, taking Draco's hand into his own.

Draco looked up and smiled at Harry. His gentle touch always seemed to make Draco feel better. "Alright, let's talk about Quidditch."

Harry looked a little taken about by this, but smiled all the same. "Ok. What about Quidditch is it that you want to talk about?"

"I was thinking of quitting the Quidditch team," Draco said casually, as if he was talking about the weather. Harry nearly choked on his coffee at this sudden statement.

"What? Why? I mean, I thought we agreed you great at the game!"

"I don't think the word 'great' came up," Draco chuckled, "but I don't know. I like to play the game, but I don't like the competitive aspect of it."

"But that's the point of the game," Harry laughed.

"Yeah I know, I just mean…you can have fun and be competitive at the same time. But ever since my father made me join the team –"

"You feel like all the fun has been sucked out because you feel like you always needed to impress your father." Harry finished.

"Yes! I feel like I can't have fun unless I'm winning, and I know that's not the point of the game." Draco said.

"You know Draco, you don't have to impress your father anymore. Now you can just relax and have fun." Harry said, grabbing Draco's other hand into his own, so now he was holding both of Draco's hand.

"I know. But my even though I don't have to deal with my father anymore, he still kind of scares me."

"Really? Why does he scare you?" Harry asked, looking at Draco.

"He's more powerful than you think. He's a very threatening person, and he usually keeps his threats." Draco said. He avoided Harry's eyes as he added, "he's even beaten me a few times."

"Wait, are you serious?" Harry asked, leaning closer to Draco.

"Unfortunately. That's why I always did what said because I was afraid of the consequences." Draco said, finally looking Harry in the eyes.

"What about your mother? She never tried to stop him?" Harry asked.

Draco gave a bitter laugh. "My mother never knew how to do anything herself. Whenever my father got violent, she just left the room. And after he beat me, she never bothered to ask if I was ok. She just pretended like it didn't happen."

"That's horrible!" Harry said. "I'm really sorry you had to go through that Draco."

"It's fine –"

"No, it's not fine. Draco, you shouldn't have a reason to be scared of your father. And as I've said before, you don't live with him anymore. You don't have to deal with him."

"But nothing is stopping him from coming here whenever he wants. He is part of the Hogwarts committee. What if he decides he's going to pull me out of class one day and start beating me?" Draco whispered, not wanting to be overheard, despite the emptiness of the bar.

"I won't let that happen. You're with me now, Draco, and as long as we're together, you never have to worry about your father hurting you ever again. And that's a promise." Harry said sternly. He leaned forward and kissed Draco, who smiled.

Draco was about to say something, when he got the strangest feeling someone was watching him. He turned around in his seat, looking up and down at the empty tables. The only person behind him was the old maid in the black veil. Although she was looking down at her bottle of Firewhiskey, Draco couldn't help but think she was looking at him a second before he turned around.

"Something wrong?" Harry asked, looking over Draco's shoulder to see what he was looking at.

"Nothing, I just thought – well, it doesn't matter." Draco said, throwing the feeling off. "Why don't we go for a walk? See what else Hogsmeade has to offer." They drained the last of their coffee and left the pub.

"But seriously, you're not actually going to quit Quidditch, are you?" Harry asked, picking up where they left off. They started heading in the direction of Honeydukes.

"I don't know. I mean, I guess I don't really understand the concept of having fun and being competitive at the same time. That's not how I was raised, you know?" Draco said, shrugging his shoulders.

"It's pretty much how you play now, except when you lose, you don't get all bent about it. You know you've tried your best and that there's always next time. Plus, once you stop concentrating your energy on winning, that's when you're able to let go and have fun." Harry explained.

"And that's what you do?" Draco asked, looking at Harry, a small smile playing on his face.

"Course it is. I love Quidditch! It's about the only thing I'm good at," Harry chuckled.

"Oh come on, I'm sure you're –" Draco stopped in his tracks, whipping around to look behind him. The lane behind him was nearly deserted, except for a few students here and there. None of them seemed to be paying any attention to him or Harry.

"Um, Draco? Are you ok?" Harry asked.

Draco glanced around once more before turning back to Harry, who looked concerned. "Yeah, I'm fine." Draco said, trying to shake the uneasy feeling that someone was following them. But Harry didn't look convinced. "Really, I am. I just thought I felt someone watching us."

Harry looked behind Draco for a moment, and then back. "There's always someone staring at us though, Draco. You know that." Harry said. He took Draco's hand into his own once more, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Come on, let's keep walking."

They walked to Honeydukes, where it was more crowded than ever. It appeared every couple under the sun was there, buying sweets for their significant others. Harry and Draco headed over to the wall dedicated to all the different types of chocolate Honeydukes has to offer. They were having fun picking out the foreign chocolate that they wanted to try such as strawberry filled chocolate, honeycomb flavor, and even the triple chocolate with chocolate mousse filling which Draco was practically drooling over. But there were chocolate that the two avoided, such as the chocolate covered insects of which there were many different kinds. Draco and Harry dumped their armful of chocolates onto the counter, ready to pay.

"I've got this one, Draco," Harry said, retrieving his bag of money from his back pocket. "You paid for the coffee."

"Thanks," Draco said, putting his money away, for he fully intended to pay for the sweets. Just then, he got the feeling again; he turned around casually, as to not alert Harry again. He looked around the crowded store; everyone seemed to be minding their own business, browsing the different candies. No one looked suspicious or seemed out of the ordinary.

"You ready?" Harry asked, handing one of the bags of chocolates to Draco. Draco smiled, nodding his head.

They turned to leave the store when Draco tripped, and stumbled into an old woman. She gave a little stumble herself, catching her balance on a raised cauldron full of Blood Pops. "I am so sorry!" Draco said, leaning to help the woman.

The old woman merrily put her hand up to stop him, but kept her gaze to the ground as she said, "twas an accident, I'm sure." Her voice was deep and gravelly. It almost sounded familiar to Draco, but he couldn't place it. He did, however, notice right then that she was the old maid that was sitting behind him at the Three Broomsticks. They watched as the woman escorted herself out of the shop, the sound of the door's slam lost in the noise of the shop.

"Alright, where to next?" Harry asked, as they stepped out into the open street. Draco was glad to be out of the shop and into the fresh air to help him think. There was definitely something off about that old woman that he bumped into.

"You ok, Hun?" Harry asked one more.

"What?" Draco asked, looking around at Harry; he was a few paces behind him. He walked back to Harry, not realizing Harry had even stopped.

"Ok, what is going on? You've been acting strange ever since we got here," Harry said, looking concerned.

"Sorry, I don't mean to act strange, it's just that – well – I feel like someone's been following us all day." Draco said, even now looking around to see where the old lady had got to. "I keep getting this feeling that someone is watching us, and it's very unnerving."

"Listen, this is our first date and you're nervous; I get that. But no one's openly judging us anymore, so there's no need to –"

"It's not that, Harry. It's something else. Do you remember that I bumped into? She was in the Three Broomsticks earlier when we were there. And when I bumped into her, she refused to even look at me and ran off in a hurry." Draco explained.

"And you think that this old woman has been following us all day?" Harry asked, a little skeptically. "What would her motive be? We don't even know her."

"You don't know that, babe. She kept her veil on the entire time. For all we know, we could." Draco said, a slight frown on his face.

Harry sighed. "Let's just forget about her, and get back to the date, ok? We can worry about this later." Harry said. He reached up (Draco being slightly taller than himself) and kissed him on the cheek. Draco smiled, grabbed Harry's hand, and continued walking on, the old woman still in the back of Draco's head.