Discussions, Diagon Alley, and Disputes

Harry stood transfixed on the spot as if he'd been hit with a binding curse. He was staring at a beautiful Snowy owl that was hooting happily to the passersby as if to say "take me home" He jumps as he feels a hand grasp his shoulder.

"You alright Harry?" Hermione asked with concern blazing in her eyes.

"What? Oh, yeah I'm brilliant 'mione just thinking about whether I should get another owl or not..." The sentence drifts off as a blurr of dark hair ducks into the alley beside the owlry.

"Hey, um why don't you go around with Ron? I'm gonna talk to the owner a bit about possibly getting one."

Hermione looks at him with those searching eyes of hers but finds nothing .

"...Alright Harry, if you're sure." She says still unsure.

"I'm fine 'mione really, go have fun with Ron."

Before she can comment on that he's off on his way to the alley. That face was so familiar to him, but that hair... Harry had to satisfy his curiousity. As he reaches the alley he finds a man around his own age sitting with his back against the wall with his knees pulled up and his face pressed to them. The faint sounds of sniffling and labored breathing reverberates off the small space. Seeing the man this way Harry wuickly kneels down and reaches a hand out to the mans hunched shoulder. Right as it makes contact the mans head snaps upright and his slate grey eyes lock with Harrys. This man is none other then Draco Malfoy, the ghost of worry passes over his face; then his eyes widen to the size of saucers. Draco quickly takes his arm and drags it across his tear wet face as it flushes with embarrassment. Harry knows not to say anything so he doesn't, he just starts to rub small circles on the shoulder of the boy that unknowingly stole his heart. Draco bites his lower lip and lets out a slightly shakey breath. His old self never would have allowed this, although his old self also wouldn't have broken down in the middle of Diagon Alley because someone looked at him like he was a hippogriff dropping. His old self would have pushed Potter away and hexed him to next week...but he's not his old self. So instead he leans into it slightly, taking solace in the warmth and surprising comfort that Harry is providing him. Finally, after what seems like a millenia Harry breaks the eye contact they've had this whole time. His cheeks are flushed and his glasses show a little fog from the contrast of tempertures. Seeing this Draco allows himself the hint of a smile that Harry doesn't see. Draco has pretty much calmed down at this point but Harry doesn't remove his hand, instead he scoots ever so slightly closer to wrap his arm around the former blonde. Draco tenses a moment as he feels the equivelent of a lightning strike run through him from where the two are touching. Harry feels it to but says nothing as his already flushed cheeks turn a darker shade of red. They look back at eachother, Harry is happy to see the newly raven haired man had a blush to match his own. A look passes between them seeming to convey exactly what was going through the Slytherins mind.

"It'll be ok." Harry says finally breaking the silence between them.

Draco shakes his head rather violently.

"I shouldn't have come here..." Draco starts to say as Harry starts to rub his right arm in a comforting way making Draco loose his train of thought.

"It proves what was said at your last trial. You really have changed Draco..." Harry says reaching to move a dark strand out of Dracos alabaster face but stops just short of it and lets his hand drop.

Dracos eyes widen once again hearing Harry use his first name instead of the usual use of his last. The way it just rolled off Harrys tongue made Draco feel as though his soul were ablaze, they weren't that far apart. If either one of them would just lean in ever so slightly their lips could touch. He could finally kiss his love. A stone scuttles somewhere breaking the silence that once again had taken up residence between the two former rivals, snapping something in Draco so he bolts upright so fast Harrys arm that was draped across his shoulders falls to the ground.

"Nobody asked you Potter." Draco snaps as he quickly stands and pulls Harry with him then pushes him against the wall tehy had been leaning against.

Draco tries not to notice the hurt look in those emerald eyes that felt like they were boring into his soul. Tried not to to loose himself and his false anger in those telling orbs. Harry stares right back seeing the torrent of emotions play on Dracos usually stotic face. Pain,confusion, anger, and something he thought he'd never see least of all while looking at him. For a moment it nearly takes Harrys breath away.

Unbenounced to the pair, a certain frizzy haired Griphendoor had stumbled across them. She was about to come to her friends aide when he did something shocking. She watched rivetted to the spot as her best of seven years leaned not even an inch forward to close the distance between him and his former enemy and kiss him. Her eyes went wide as she quickly turned on her heel to go to Borgon and Burkes as to not get caught being a Voyer.

It only lasted a moment but oh that moment was filled with all the unspoken words and feelings the two had ever harbored for each other. As Draco backed away panting slightly they just stared at each other.

This certainly was going to be an interesting year at Hogwarts.