His owl came later than i had guessed it would have. Its not like i was waiting for it or anything. I just thought Draco Malfoy would be the type to get things done right off the bat, rather than waiting till last-minute.

His shiny, charcoal colored owl sat upon my windowsill and stared intently at me until i gave it a treat and waved it off. I sat down at my desk in my study and sighed, opening the letter slowly and examining the perfect handwriting and the Malfoy seal that was adorned on the letter.

HP,

I have made arrangements for us at 'Bon Appetit' at 6 o'clock Saturday evening. Do dress yourself up, will you.

DM

I couldn't hold back the chuckle that escaped my mouth. Even while trying to apologize, he was still able to be a prat.

But that's Draco.

I had come to terms with the fact that, in my mind at least, we were on a first name basis. I didn't want to struggle and waste my time, when my brain was obviously going to do what it wanted. I took out a piece of parchment and a quill.

DM,

Ginny is unable to attend. It will just be you and I.

HP

I folded the letter and gave it to my own owl, a black barn owl that had been prenamed 'Spencer' when I bought him last year in Diagon Alley. I didn't have a fancy seal to put on the letter, i just sent it off as was.

A thought came into my head after i send the owl away. It would just be the two of us. Just me and Draco. We have never spent any time alone, save for the other night in the pub. I wonder how it will go. Will we just bicker until one of us storms out? Or were we both too proud to do that? Or could it possibly be a delightful evening full of laughter and good conversation?

I doubted that, and I laughed at the thought of us actually enjoying each others company.

But then, I never really knew Draco to begin with.

We've never spoke, except when we insulted each other. I didn't know any of Draco's hobbies, his likes or dislikes. We may have nothing in common at all. What will we discuss? Will it just be a quiet dinner and before we go our separate ways?

No, Draco's a clever man. I'm sure he will think of something. Even if that something is just annoying me to no end.

I dressed in my best robes and attempted to tame my unruly hair, as I do everyday. Seeing it was a lost cause, I sighed and brushed the imaginary dirt from my robes. As the time grew closer to when I would have to meet Draco at the restaurant, I felt a knot tightening on my stomach. I wasn't sure where it had come from or why it was there, but I, for some reason, was definitely nervous.

I was at a loss as I attempted to dissect the strange feeling. I chalked it up just to the unknowingness of the evening, but I wondered if it was excitement. Why should I be so excited? It's just dinner with an old...friend?

I don't think I like having all these weird feelings that has strangely started occurring after Draco appeared in my life. But they were different. My normal life was just so...boring and consistent.

I really think I'm going to go insane before this night is over.

I was so deep in my thoughts, I didn't hear the footsteps approaching the bedroom. I was startled when I was Ginny's face appear next to me in the mirror.

"So you're still going alone with this then?"

"Going along with what? A simple dinner?"

"Why are you so dressed up?"

"I was told it was a real nice place. Should we go somewhere where jeans and t-shirts are acceptable?"

"I'm just saying. I don't think you should go. It could be a trap or a plan for something sinister, to capture you or something.."

"You're being ridiculous Ginny. It's just dinner. That's it."

"If you feel weird at all during the dinner, please, promise me you'll leave. Watch your back for goodness sakes Harry!"

I couldn't help but just roll my eyes. After all these years, she still thinks i can't take care of myself. I don't like using my fame for anything, but dammit, I AM the bloody boy who lived.

"Please Ginny, just stop."

"...You know I don't like him, and i never will Harry, so don't get cozy with him. He won't be attending family functions and whatnot."

"Alright that's enough! I'm tired of you speaking badly about him. I will do whatever the fuck I want with whomever the hell I choose to bloody do it with. It's just dinner!" I stormed past her and down the stairs of our flat. As i reached the door, I turned towards the stairs, where Ginny quietly stood, staring.

"Don't wait up." I said, as she watched me leave.

I don't know how much longer i can stay in this relationship and pretend to be happy, this past week has really been an eye opener for me. I just don't know if i can do it.

I hope there's plenty of alcohol there tonight.

The knot in my stomach tightened as I reached the restaurant. I straightened my robe and entered. I was greeted by a woman in a tight-fitting button up black shirt and skirt. She stared at me with mild interest.

"Name?"

"Erm..Harry Potter..I'm here to see-"

"Draco Malfoy. Yes, we were informed. Please, this way." She turned and let me down a long hallway with many doors on both sides of the walls. She stopped at a black door with a silver number "17" painted on it. The women, whose name I read on her name was Hilda, opened the door for me and I slowly peaked my head around the corner.

Draco was already there, sitting in a circular booth with leather seats. He had a glass of wine placed in front of him on a dark oak wood table. He looked away from the window he had been staring out of and grinned.

"Late. As usual, Potter."

I shook my head and entered the room, sitting across from him at the table. Hilda shut the door and we were then left alone. A glass of white wine appeared in front of me, which i eagerly accepted. He took a sip of his before turning back to the window. I looked out too and saw an empty field.

"So, this window?"

"Its enchanted. It gives you basically any imagine you want to see."

"And you want to see a field?"

"Its peaceful. Calm. What would you prefer?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Then don't complain if you're not going to contribute intelligence to the conversation."

And so it begins.

We had ordered our food and made more small talk. We talked about work. I asked him about his parents. He said his mother was traveling in France, enjoying her years without fear of the dark lord. He didn't mention his father. And I didn't press on the subject.

I listened to him talk about St. Mungos and all the work he does there. Apparently he makes potions for them as well. He spoke with such passion about his work, it made me a bit envious. He seemed so happy and content with his life, doing something he loved, and, basically, doing whatever it was he wanted to do. No pressure from others to live up to their expectations. It sounded like a nice life and i found myself wishing i had it as good as him. Which is something i surprised myself with thinking.

"Something the matter, Potter?" he asked, looking at me intently. I shook my head.

"No. I'm just glad you're enjoying your job and life so much."

"Well," he chuckled, "It's not all great."

I glanced up at him and he turned away, looking out at the window once more. "What do you mean?"

He shook his head, still staring outside. "After the war, I lost many things Potter. My friends being one of them. Its been a lonely last few years. That's mainly the reason i put so much time and effort into my work. It's all I've got. Its the only thing to keep my going, otherwise, I'll just sit at home, alone, driving myself absolutely nutty. I envy you and your perfect life."

Hearing this made me gag on my wine. I got ahold of myself as Draco watched in amusement.

"You're jealous of me and my life?" I asked, still not believing what I had heard. He nodded.

"You get to come home to a...significant other. You have friends and family to keep you busy. I'm sure there's not one moment in the day where you're lonely, or bored with being in your own head. I envy that, to have a real life, and family."

I stared at him for what couldn't have been more than a minute. Did he really think I was happy?

"Malfoy...Draco...I..if you could switch places with me, you would definitely not envy my life. If anything, i would love to be you. You can do whatever you want! I mean, come on, its gotta feel nice to not have to please every single person in your life right?" He shrugged before looking up at me.

"Is that why you were alone in that pub earlier this week? Escaping the world?"

"Yeah...I mean, sure my life looks great. But it's...just not what I wanted. I just wanted to...bloody hell, I have no idea what I wanted to do. I really loved quidditch. I could've played professionally. I could've been a writer. I could've walked dogs for a living, it wouldn't matter, because it would've been what I wanted. Something peaceful, where I didn't have to walk on eggshells around everyone. It gets tiring."

"You didn't want to be an Auror?"

"No of course not. It sounded exciting at first, track down bad guys and whatnot. I wasn't doing it to be a hero, I just wanted to do good. But if everyone didn't actually expect me to do it, i could've quit when i wanted and gone off to do something else. I feel.."

"..Stuck?"

"Exactly."

Draco nodded his head and drank from his wine glass. I noticed that, for some reason, I was eagerly opening up for Draco, someone who i had supposedly despised in school. We sat in silence for a good five minutes before he pushed his glass away and stood up.

"Come on Potter, we're gonna go have some fun."