Muggle With Magic

Ron and Lavender would not let each other go. For instance, today, Harry and Ron were talking in the common room and Lavender squeezed herself in between them, flinging her arms around Ron's neck.

 "Hi, Harry." Said Parvati who, like him, looked faintly embarrassed and bored by their friends' behaviour.

 “Hi," said Harry, "How're you? You're staying at Hogwarts, then? I thought your parents wanted you to leave."

 "Oh Padma and I managed to convince them otherwise. After the whole Katie debacle I don't want to leave, maybe I could help eventually." There should be more people like Padma and Parvati, she thought.

"Are you going to Slughorn's party?" Asked Harry. He hoped she was, he liked Parvati.

 "No, I wasn't asked." She looked sullen for all of two seconds when she brought up what happened at the celebration, "But you definitely asked someone, didn't you Mr Grand Gesture!" She hit Harry's arm, "If I had known you'd do that for someone I would've asked for the same in fourth year!"

 He laughed, "I don't think it would've happened, Parvati."

 "Shame." She tutted, "But you must be excited, right? A public party with your future husband."

 "Oh I wouldn't go that far." He blushed redder than the robes he wore.

 Parvati rolled her eyes, “You asked him to be your date in front of the whole Gryffindor student body, Harry. Who else would you do that for?”

Calmly, Draco sat in an armchair in the Slytherin Common Room. Glaring at him as she walked in was Parkinson, because apparently that was Florian’s seat. Nobody else sat in Florian’s seat. “Piss off, Parkinson.” He sighed, turning over the page to his book (A Spell Too Far: The Life of Harry Potter. It was amazing all the things they got wrong. Honestly, the book believes he was living with a wealthy Wizarding family in Wales). 

 “Do you not have something better to do than infect the place with your muggle-loving ways?” She sneered, not coming any closer to Draco in case she caught something.

 “Oh, that’s right!” Dramatically, he closed the book and stood up, looking down at her, “I have a party to attend. A party you were not invited to. Pity.” He pouted then sighed, “Oh well, I’ll be sure to bring you back a sandwich or two.”

 He walked off, “I- Malfoy!” She screamed after him, but Draco was already down the hall. 

The party would kick off in three hours, and he and Harry wanted to meet an hour before just to hang out alone. So, he changed. Blaise walked in when Draco had his shirt off, staring at the sight. “Someone needs to blow out the candle because it’s already too hot in here.” He stared, and Draco turned away, blushing.

 “Who have you decided to take, then? Since I’m unavailable.”

 “Well,” Blaise sighed, “I had to settle for the next best thing.” 

 He left it at that, and Draco wired his brain to think who it could be. His instant thought was Daphne because she was just the female version of him (he even heard some rumours that if Potter was straight she’d be the one he’d date). But then… “No.” 

 “Yes.” Draco could hear that annoying smirk in his voice.

 “Uninvite him. Now.” Draco stomped his foot, turning back around with his white shirt done up and black waistcoat in hand. 

 “And why should I do that?” The Italian looked to his nails.

 “You know what he is like with Harry, Blaise. Out of everyone, you chose him! Why him in the first place?”

 He shrugged, “He asked.” Oh, as simple as that, is it? Someone asks and it’s an immediate yes, apparently. Draco did not want to believe it. A formal event, like a real, actual date with Harry and who will be there watching his every mood like a protective little shit? (Even though he’s only watching Draco because he hates Harry.) Fucking Florian. 

 “It’s a shame, really. Longbottom was looking forward to an invite.” Blaise’s ears perked up. Draco had noticed whenever Neville was around Blaise trailed not too far behind. Even went as far as to sit with him. in a lesson, Theo told him. It seemed like Blaise had developed a crush, and hadn’t yet realised it.

 “Unfortunately, the invites are already handed out.” Blaise ignored Draco then, and Draco somewhat missed the annoying flirting. 

Walking down the hall, Harry saw Draco draped across the wall, one leg up so his foot rested on it and leaning back on the hard stone. In a full suite, and Harry thought he'd never looked better. When he got closer, Harry said, "You look-"

 "Gorgeous? Stunning? Ravishing?" Draco took a step closer with every word until he and Harry were a breath apart.

 "Like a posh prat." Harry teased and laughed when Draco hit his arm.his arm. “You look good.”

They walked around the gardens outside for a bit, always close but not holding hands or linking arms. And they chatted, and not about Florian or Death Eaters or the War. It was about lessons, what they liked, Draco explained a few TV shows to Harry and Harry badly sung a few David Bowie songs so when Sirius asks him about them he has a reply. 

 “If Hermione wanted to get back at Ronald she’s going about it the right way.” Draco chuckled.

 “What?” Harry asked. Hermione hadn’t really talked to him about the thing with Ron past the Afterparty chat. She spent much more time in the library. When Harry talked about it - or tried to - she shut it down.

 “Cormac asking her of course.” Draco said curiously, “Did she not tell you?”

 “No…”

 “Well it’s no surprise, really.” Harry looked offended and Draco rolled his eyes, “You aren’t exactly his biggest fan, are you?”

 “You’d think my best friend would talk to me about it though.” He grumbled.

 Tutting, Draco stopped in front of him and squeezed his arm, stroking it soothingly. “She will, in her own time. You can’t force her to talk to you. And you’re Ron’s best friend as well as hers, so she probably doesn’t want you to get caught in the middle of it all.”

 On their way to the party, their arms were linked. And they came across a mistletoe: it grew over their head as they walked, small snowflakes falling. Draco tried to move, but he found his feet stuck. “It’s magical. You have to kiss under it.” Harry was too pleased with himself.

 They did, and it was their second ever kiss. And it was better than their first. Because this time it wasn’t hard or forceful like the first one because there wasn’t the adrenaline behind it. It was nice, it was soft, it was everything. They kissed again, even though the mistletoe was gone. 

 They ran into Florian and Blaise. Thankfully, the two were ahead of them so Harry wanted to hang back a little more so they didn’t get caught. Draco couldn’t agree. He did not want Florian to see them, as much as he loved his brother.

 Unfortunately, Harry had heavy footsteps, and they turned around. “Good afternoon, Draco.” Drawled Florian, “Half-breed.”

 “Florian.” Draco warned, wanting this to go well. 

 Thankfully, Harry bit his tongue and Florian only rolled his eyes. “Pleasure, Potter.”

 But Harry didn’t hold his tongue for too long, “Hello, Malfoy, Zabini. Was Slurghorn alright with you bringing Malfoy? Only, he didn’t invite him to the Slug Club ‘cause of what’s going on.”

 “Harry, I will langlock you.” Draco bit, “You two as well.” Gripping Harry’s arm tight enough for his nails to dig into the fabric, Draco dragged him away. “See you soon, Miele!”

 “Do you know what he said?” 

 “He speaks Italian all the time.” Draco brushed it off.

Slughorn’s office was much larger than a normal teacher's study. The ceilings and walls were draped with emerald, crimson and golden hangers. It was like they were in an unexpectedly large tent. Crowded and stuffy, it was bathed in a warm, glowing light casted by a light orange and yellow chandelier taking centre stage. 

 “Harry, m’boy!” boomed Slughorn, almost as soon as Harry and Draco squeezed through the door. “Come in, come in, there are so many people that want to meet you-” He stopped when he saw who Harrys date was, “Oh Mister Malfoy, I don’t believe you were on the invite list-”

 “He’s with me, Professor.” Harry bit, putting his arm around Draco’s waist and squeezing it. Gripping Harry’s arm so tightly he was afraid Slughorn would disapparate with him, Slughorn dragged him to the first person and Harry held Draco’s hand tightly so he didn’t suffer alone.

 “Harry, I’d like you to meet Eldred Worple, an old student of mine, and author of Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst Vampires. And, of course, his friend Sanguini.”

And next to him, Draco realised was the vampire. The vampire Eldred wrote about the most, the one that he describes as his ‘best friend’. While reading, Draco knew it was more than that. 

 Worple was a smal, bespectacled man who grabbed Harry’s hand and shook it vigorously. The vampire, Sanguini, who was tall and emaciated with dark shadows under his eyes, was a sight to behold. His hair was in a high, braided ponytail that reached the bottom of his back. Saguini merely nodded at them, but Draco wanted a handshake so stuck it out and Saguini wearily accepted it. 

 “I loved your book Mister Worple, every second of it.” Worple smiled at him, “And the relationship the two of you built was truly inspiring.” Draco wanted to wrangle some sort of mouth-lift from Sanguini so he threw in a little compliment, and it worked! 

 “I could say the same for you, Draco Malfoy.” Sanguini’s voice was deep and gravely and Draco would have swooned if Harry’s hand wasn’t around his waist. 

 “Thank you, Mister Malfoy.” Worple addressed him, but then turned to Harry with a ridiculously bright smile, “And Harry Potter, I am simply delighted!” Harry plastered on a fake smile, “I was just saying to Horace last week, where is this true, Harry Potter biography going to come out?”

“Erm-” Harry stuttered, “you were?”

 Worple laughed, “Just as modest as Horace described.” He was an excitable little creature while Sanguini was much the opposite so Draco could see that opposites attract did really exist. “But seriously,” it was like the flick of a switch and suddenly they were in a boardroom, “I would be delighted to write it myself. People are craving to know everything about you dear boy, craving!

"Tell you what, how about I show you and this lovely young lad to our home where you can explore vampire culture in exchange for… let’s say four or five in-depth interviews. The book will be finished in months!”

 It seemed that Sanguini had taken a liking to Draco, so interrupted his partner’s ranting, “Isn’t that your brother over there, Draco?” He pointed at Florian, chatting with Blaise and an older man in a dust and crease-less suit. 

 “Oh yes, terrible, terrible.” Worple tutted, taking a glass of wine from a waiter and having a sip, “How very unfortunate for Mister and Misses Malfoy, one of their children being taken by a nurse. You must be happy to be back with them.” Draco didn’t know that was the story in the papers.

 Harry looked like he was going to erupt in flames and fire from Hell, “Who’s said that?”

 “Oh, the Prophet interviewed the boy’s parents. Heart-wrenching, really.” Again, Worple’s demeanour switched back to business, “People are interested in your life, too, Mister Malfoy. If either of you are willing, I will gladly write your biographies, it would be a huge honour! My dear boys, the gold you could make, you have no idea-”

 “We’re definitely not interested,” Harry firmly stated, “and I’ve just seen a friend of mine, sorry.” 

 He dragged Draco with him through the crowd over to Hermione, standing alone without Cormac by her side. “Hermione!” Harry tried once to grab her attention but she was looking around for someone, “Hermione!” Harry hissed again and this time she looked at him, her worried lip drawing into a smile.

 “Harry! There you are, thank goodness.” She sighed, “Hi, Draco.”

 “Hermione.” He nodded in greeting. “You look like Crookshanks went missing.” Harry did think it looked like she had a wrestling match with Devil’s Snare.

 “Ha ha, Draco.” She rolled her eyes, “I just escaped - I mean, I just lost Cormac for a second there.”

 They spoke with Hermione for a bit, Draco zoning out of their conversation to wrap his arm around Harry’s waist and almost rest his head on top of the shorter boy. When Cormac started to walk in their direction, Hermione scampered away. Now, Draco dragged Harry around for a bit and gratefully took a block of sweet cheese on a stick (that threw him off guard) and gracefully accepted a glass of wine after buttering up the waiter a bit - Harry wasn’t exactly too pleased.

 After Slughorn dragged them to talk to other people (Harry met a member of the HolyHead Harpies, Gwenog Jones, and forgot how to talk for a second), they finally had time to talk alone. 

 "I'm sorry." Harry stuttered, "I didn't think it would be like this, trust me."

 "Harry, it's honestly fine. It's… somewhat fun, talking to all these people." Draco smiled, resting his hand on Harry's arm, "And you got to meet one of your idols, didn't you?" Harry smiled. "Plus, the night is still young." Draco pulled him closer so they were a hair's width apart.

 "What do you mean by that?"

 "What do you think I mean?"

 "I mean I'm hoping to be kissed but I might just be reading the room wrong-" Draco huffed a laugh, holding the small of Harry's back and kissing him. They both smiled into it.

Nearing the end of the party, Florian was snatched aside by Snape. Harry left Draco chatting with Blaise as he sprinted to catch up and hear their conversation.