The Dating Game, Part Twenty Three Title: The Dating Game, Part Twenty Three Fandom: Harry Potter Author: digthewriter Rating: PG-13 Word Count: 100x9 Warnings: AU/EWE. Possible OOC I suppose. A/N: Unbetaed. [Read Part Twenty Two]
Harry turned away from Draco and looked at the picture that was on the table by his bed-side. It was taken in London and Draco was with his friends, ice skating. The frames had words etched onto it. "Elizabeth Tower, December 2005, Pansy, Blaise, Draco." Harry smiled at the picture. Draco came around Harry and took the frame from his hand and stared at it.
"You miss them." It wasn't a question.
"Every day," Draco sighed. "But they promise to visit so we shall see," he said.
After the war, Parkinson had moved to Australia and a few years after, had married Zabini, making him move there too. Harry couldn't imagine what he'd do if Ron and Hermione moved far away and he couldn't see them at the drop of a hat.
Draco looked happy. They were laughing in the picture, nose, and cheeks flushed and Zabini was wearing a Christmas scarf with red-nosed reindeers.
"Do you ever go to visit?"
"Not yet. I do want to, but I'm afraid I'd move there if I went to visit. Maybe, go there and never come back. Thus, Mother has forbid me from visiting."
"I wouldn't want you to move there," Harry said, without thinking about it.
Draco put the frame down and turned to look at Harry. "Is that so?"
"Yeah. Not much Auror business from the British Ministry in Australia. I'd have to find other reasons to—"
"You're being awfully sweet today, Potter. I'm afraid it has me a bit worried."
Harry laughed. "I told you, I'm making up for lost time."
"If you keep this up, I might get used to it. I'm afraid you'll always have to act this way."
Harry raised an eyebrow at Draco. "Act how? Sweet and enchanted? I'm afraid that won't be so difficult." Harry brushed Draco's cheek with his hand and Draco leaned into the touch. They locked eyes and Draco quickly looked away. Harry thought they were going to kiss again but there was a bit of hesitation in Draco's expression.
"I'm thirsty. Would you like some water?" Draco pulled away and made his way back to the kitchen.
Harry could spot an evasive tactic a mile away. It was clear that now Draco was avoiding or hiding something. He'd been so open all evening so Harry had no idea what he'd done to bring this on. He followed Draco into the kitchen as Draco poured them both a glass of water.
"What's the matter?" He walked up to Draco and placed his hand on the small of Draco's back. They'd been so casual with each other tonight that Harry felt that he had the right to do so. To make sure Draco could feel safe with him. If he was uncertain about something, Harry would listen to it.
"Nothing," Draco said, turning around and Harry didn't take his touch away. It moved from his back to his side now.
Harry gave Draco his stern look. The look that usually worked on suspects and they'd crack under the pressure in front of an Auror. He hoped it worked on Draco.
"We're both had too much to drink. "Maybe coming here was a bad idea..." Draco said.
"I have no intention of...forcing anything, Draco."
"I know. I know that," Draco said and drank his water as if he was avoiding saying something.
They were quiet for a while and Harry waited. He had a lot of patience. He could wait.
"You're nice. And sweet, and Teddy loves you, of course. You're smart and attentive and you've been apologising for that night from a few years ago. It's all very wonderful. Still, I kind of was hoping you were a bit of a prick, really," Draco said and drank some more water.
Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Why?"
Draco laughed too, almost looking embarrassed. "Because then I wouldn't have this intense desire of ripping all your clothes off."
Harry couldn't help but laugh at the way Draco had uttered those words. It was good to know that Draco wanted him just as much. Of course, they'd been kissing all evening and there was no doubt about the desire there, between the two of them, but to hear it from Draco was a relief.
"I've been thinking almost similar thoughts all evening. You have no idea how much I want you, how much I've wanted you," Harry confessed in a whisper.
"I just don't think it's a good idea to sleep together on the first date," Draco said.
"I agree. I want to take my time getting to know you," Harry said quickly. He had this sudden urge of telling Draco how much he cared for him. "I don't want to miss anything."
"It's complicated," Draco said.
"I know," Harry said, running a hand through his hair, and then grabbing that second glass of water Draco had poured. He rested his back against the other wall in the kitchen and looked over to the guest room. "I don't want to fuck it up."
"What makes you think you will?" Draco asked. He sounded surprised. He had no idea what he did to Harry; how insecure Harry was around him.
"Hermione's been grilling me about Pureblood dating etiquette. And I have no idea. What if you disagree with something I do and would just stop wanting to see me like Jones—"
"Jones?" Draco said, sounding amused. "That was..." He chuckled and Harry could see his cheeks turning pink. "That was a ploy by someone, I suspect Granger, to...I don't even know."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, straightening up. Unexpectedly, he was very angry. What did he mean...a ploy by Hermione?