Dec 02: Step One: Pretending to Hide (Harry/Draco) Title: Step One: Pretending to Hide Author:digthewriter Fandom: Harry Potter - Harry/Draco Word Count: ~500 Rating: PG-13 Warning: EWE. Auror Training Academy. Made up stuff. Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended. Author's Notes: This story is going to be called "Nothing Ventured (Nothing Gained)" Each chapter is going to have a unique title but it'll all be part of one big story. I hope! AO3 link for all chapters in a row!
"If I agree to do this," Harry said carefully, "what will happen in the end? I mean are we just going to break up?"
Malfoy seemed to think for a few quick seconds and came up with his answer. It was obvious he'd given it a lot of thought.
"Primarily, I just want to get the holidays over with. At the end of this term of Auror training, we'll be separating anyway. This term we're doing Leadership Training, and next term I'm on Criminal Investigation and you're doing...?"
"Civilian Training," said Harry.
"Right. So we'll ask for different roommates and pretend we called it off. It's only for a few weeks. I mean, it can't be that hard for you to pretend to like me. You're always chatting me up anyway."
"Malfoy..." Harry said sternly. He could feel a blush rising up his neck and he willed it down. "You realise this is the most you've ever spoken to me since we started training. How can you pretend to be my boyfriend? You don't even look at me in public."
"Clearly things will change now. So, Potter? Are you in or not?" Malfoy eyed him and Harry didn't respond. "I can pay you."
Harry felt as if he'd been stabbed through the heart with an icicle. "I don't want your money."
"Then what do you want?"
"When the time comes, I'll let you know."
Malfoy eyed him with suspicion but nodded once. "Very well, let's discuss how we should proceed with this."
Harry sat back on his bed and let Malfoy talk for a while. He tried to listen but honestly, Malfoy was such a planner, and Harry knew from experience that things never worked out the way you planned. He didn't tell Malfoy this though because Harry quite liked watching Malfoy. Now he could watch him without looking creepy or weird. Malfoy expected him to watch him.
"So, let's go!"
"What? Where are we going?"
"We have to be seen together in public, Potter. Come on, then."
Malfoy pulled on Harry's arm and they left the room. When Harry saw someone approach them, Malfoy quickly let go of Harry and looked guilty. He didn't make eye contact with the other recruit and kept walking.
"What was that about?"
"Pretending to keep it a secret," Malfoy said rolling his eyes.
Finally, they left the building their dormitories were in and Harry was hit with a torturously chilly breeze. He saw an abandoned phone box that was covered with snow and wanted to hide inside it. "In here," he said, pulling Malfoy in there with him.
"What are you doing?"
Harry quickly came up with an excuse. "I just saw Jones walking towards us."
"So?"
"Jones is the biggest gossip at the academy. If he sees us then..."
"Ah, good thinking!" Malfoy said and as Jones peered into the phone box, Malfoy leaned in and kissed Harry's cheek. His breath lingered on Harry's skin and Harry's glasses fogged up.