Chapter Forty-Eight - The Lake
"Any chance I can make you happy with a cup of tea?" Harry was startled from his thoughts as a smiling Draco approached his spot under the tree.
"Please don't tell me it's strawberry tea, I am so done with you trying to force on me your favourite flavour! It is cruel and untasteful as I have told you many times already."
"Ha, and as I have told you many times before already, I do not care. You should learn to appreciate my taste, for it is exquisite."
They grinned at each other. A small flutter went through Harry's stomach.
Draco took his seat next to Harry and served the tea. Harry's favourite, ginger and cinnamon. Together, they overlooked the lake as they fell into a comfortable silence.
"Care to tell me what you were pondering about before I arrived?"
"I was thinking about you actually" Harry blurted out. Draco's grey eyes looked up startled, hopeful, as Harry's cheeks reddened.
Stuttering he continued, "I mean, ehm, about your pureblood upbringing really, your Father's influence on you as well I think. Sorry, that sounds stupid. It's just that- we have both learned to talk about our problems right and well we are both really trying to fight of all these expectations that actually we choose to take on and ehm- well I feel like I don't care what the whole student body thinks of me anymore. There is no obligation of surviving and so I kind of had time to think about my life besides that. Friends, work, holidays, love..." His cheeks warmed up significantly and Harry was now properly having no idea where he was going with this story. He just knew it was the way he felt.
"Harry," Draco took Harry hand all of a sudden and held it tight. Making use of the silence Harry's shock had caused, "My father has been sentenced to Azkaban, my mother and I are free, and it feels strange not have his ideas and judgements hanging over me. The norms I learned and laid upon myself really, because of him." He stopped to take a large breath.
Breaking eye contact Draco looked back at the lake, a small blush on his cheeks. "I just mean to say Harry, that we both can choose any life we want. We just need to know what it is we want, and work for it."
Harry taking courage from Draco's warmth spreading through his hand looked up at him and smiled. They both understood now that the expectations placed on them were a choice they could make, they could accept the expectations or not. How simple it may sound. How hard it actually was.
"We have worked quite hard for it, haven't we"
Draco turned back to look at Harry, "It felt like I had no choice. You gave me one Harry."
Harry took his chance, and squeezed Draco's hand, "I would kind of like to take charge of the rest of my life here." Draco's grey eyes stared into his questioningly, "Draco Malfoy, could I take you out to a café for tea some time?"
Draco's smile broadened.
Harry felt it might have been misunderstood and a sudden nervous streak washed over him, "ehm... you know. As a date of course."
And Draco laughed.
He stood up holding Harry's hand and looked down. "Harry Potter, please take me on a date. I would like nothing more than another cup of tea right now."
The next week a photo was printed on the front page of the Daily Prophet. An image was shown, possibly taken from the Astronomy Tower, viewing the lake, the hills in the background and a lonesome tree marking the beginning of the Forbidden Forest. A forgotten tray of tea was left underneath the tree. Right in the middle of the picture two boys could be seen. Running away, hand in hand as they laughed at each other.
'Harry Potter, the boy who lived, off the (news-) market.' a story told by Harry Potter himself, retrieved from the Quibbler. A full account of Harry Potter's first four years at Hogwarts. Including a personal message in the end from Mr. Potter himself,
"The rest of my life will be quite boring and, quite frankly, none of your business. I think I might enjoy it."
The End