The Dating Game, Part SIX Title: The Dating Game, Part SIX pairing/fandom:: harry/draco - harry potter Author: digthewriter Rating: PG-13 Word Count: ~450 Warnings: EWE A/N: Unbetaed. / PART ONE / PART TWO, PART THREE, PART FOUR / PART FIVE
"I hate you. Both," Harry said and stuffed the rainbow pants in the bag they came in.
Hermione laughed but stopped when Harry scowled at her. "You know that Ron really likes this new Draco. He's changed so much after the war and if I wasn't sure that Ron was straight, I'd be worried that he had a bit of a crush on Malfoy. Well, I'm sure he has a bit of a crush, still..."
"He's not bad anymore, you know, for a Malfoy," Ron said with a straight face. "But, I would never pine after him. I mean, come on..."
"Thanks, Ron," Harry said, annoyed. He pulled out his wand and waved it in the air, stirring his hot chocolate. "I'll be sure to pass the message on when we meet." Unknowingly, as he continued to stir his drink, a small heart shape emerged on the foam.
When Harry realised what had happened, he quickly picked up his drink and started sipping from it.
"Why are you so nervous?" Hermione asked, watching him carefully.
Harry shrugged. "I don't know...it's Malfoy," he said. "I mean, I've tried to date people in the past you know, after Ginny, nothing's ever worked out. And if this one doesn't—"
"Aren't you jumping ahead?" Ron asked, his tone suddenly very serious. "You haven't even gone on a date yet. You asked him, he said yes, what makes you think it won't work?"
Harry shrugged again. "I asked people in the past, and they said yes—"
"They said yes because you're Harry. I mean a celebrity, you know. But, Malfoy doesn't think of you like that. He didn't have to say yes. He isn't fazed by that. He's already seen you at your worst—"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked confused.
"Remember the Ministry Ball a couple of years ago when you and Ron got so drunk and Ron was throwing up in the toilets and you were trying to act sober and—"
"Oh, don't remind me!" Harry covered his face with his hand. He'd completely forgotten about that. That night had been a disaster and it was also the night when Harry had flirted with Malfoy. After that night, Harry had been sure that Malfoy would never talk to him again but the next week, when they were back at work, Malfoy never brought it up.
He and Ron were not allowed to drink at parties anymore after that. Hermione had made sure of that. Harry couldn't believe that after all of that, Malfoy still agreed to go out with him. And on Christmas eve, no less. Maybe he had changed. Maybe he really did like Harry.