Day 11: Harry Potter. Harry/Draco. Step Ten: Surprise Him. Surprise Yourself. Title: Step Ten: Surprise Him. Surprise Yourself. Author:digthewriter Word Count: 730 Rating: PG-13 Warning: EWE. Auror Training Academy. Made up stuff. Pretend Relationship. 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!
When Malfoy returned from the hospital and he and Harry were attending lectures again. Everything seemed to be normal for the time being, until Harry overheard a conversation in the men's loo.
"I'm telling you, it's not real."
"How can it not be real? It's Harry Potter we're talking about. He won't just fake a relationship, not with a former Death Eater."
"Fine, I'll make a bet with you. I bet I can prove it that their relationship is a facade. I mean, have you even seen the two of them kissing? And they're supposedly in love? I bet I can get a Prophet reporter to prove it."
"Very well. What do you want to bet? What would I have to do...?"
"Let me think about it. It's going to be something good. I'll make you walk around the cafe in women's knickers or something..."
"No, mate. I'll take that bet. I know Potter wouldn't lie being in a relationship. Not with a bloke. Not with a Death Eater. You are the one that's going to be walking around in women's underwear."
Harry nearly panicked and ran out of the loo in search of Malfoy. When he finally found him in their room, he told Malfoy everything.
"It's not working. People aren't buying it."
"We'll have to do something drastic," Malfoy said and Harry sighed with a relief. He couldn't believe he was so desperate to make this fake relationship look real. Why didn't he just tell Malfoy how he felt? Maybe then, they could be dating for sure and instead of trying so hard, it could easily become real.
"We'll have to kiss in public."
"I'm sorry, what?" Harry's head was spinning. Did he just say kiss? In public?
"Yes, that's it. We'll go to one of those tourist spots and have our picture taken. Then maybe someone will accidentally send it to the Prophet, anonymously, of course—"
"Of course," said Harry.
"And then we wouldn't have to worry about it."
"But where will we go?"
"The London bridge. The wizards say that it's a famous tourist spot, I always wanted to go there with Sebastian but the bastard just never had the time," Malfoy said rolling his eyes. "This'll show him."
"What are we going to do there?" Harry asked, confused. From what he'd heard, and seen, the London Bridge is a busy place with cars and buses crossing the bridge regularly. Maybe there was a wizarding side that he didn't know about?
"There's a pedestrian way on the bridge, and during the holidays, it's quite bustling with tourists, Muggles and Wizards. If we're seen together - maybe get a picture taken - it'll be quite the show!"
Malfoy seemed quite adamant on going through with this so Harry didn't mind. What was he going to do now? Say no? Not after he'd made such a big deal that their relationship wasn't passing off as real. Not after he'd made the show of buying Malfoy all those presents and even being courteous with Narcissa Malfoy at the hospital.
He'd signed up for this and well, this is what was happening.
"Brilliant," Harry said. "Just really brilliant."
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After dinner, Harry and Malfoy Apparated to the London bridge which was lit up and and crowded. The pedestrian passageway wasn't big enough for the amounts of Muggle and wizarding tourists there were.
Eventually, just how Malfoy had predicted, a photographer spotted them, knowing who Harry was and offered to take their picture. "The best quality wizarding photo!" he assured them.
"Certainly!" Malfoy said excitedly and wrapped his arm around Harry's waist, pulling him close. "Make it a good one, then!"
Harry looked at Malfoy hesitantly before looking at the camera and smiling. Then Malfoy leaned down and brushed his lips against Harry's cheek. Harry knew it was now or never. Malfoy had said he wanted to kiss on top of the bridge and well...Harry was going to give him exactly what he wanted. He was Malfoy's boyfriend.
Harry turned his face and captured Malfoy's lips in a soft yet demanding kiss. He swiped his tongue against Malfoy's lower lip before gently biting on it.
Malfoy jerked his head back with a surprise but Harry only smiled at him. "You wanted a good show, right?" he whispered so only Malfoy could hear him. Then, Malfoy grinned at him.