Duelling
The following month both trios visited their D.A.s respectively. In the second week of joined practices Harry challenged Draco to a showcase duel which the blonde generously accepted.
Luna Lovegood was chosen as the referee because she seemed the most neutral one.
“Wands at the ready!” she said a in a singsong voice.
Facing each other, faces only six inches apart and wands held before their noses, Draco sneered “Scared, Potter?”
Harry growled in response “You wish!” and couldn’t help but grin when Draco broke out in soft giggles.
They lowered their wands, bowed, and turned to take a few steps in opposite directions. Then they faced each other again, taking the duelling stance. They waited for the countdown which didn’t come.
Ron nudged Luna’s shoulder and whispered “You have to count to three!”
Luna who had stared dreamily at something only she could see said softly “Oh” and began to count.
Before Luna could say “three”, Draco winked at Harry and shouted “Everte Statum!”
Harry rolled his eyes and deflected the spell grinning. “Rictusempra!”
Elegantly sidestepping Harry’s spell, Dracos eyes sparkled with mischief when he yelled “Serpensortia!”
While Potter was speaking to the snake which was surprisingly friendly and self-dissolved, Draco fired attack after attack. But Potter's shields were strong. Feeling the thrill of excitement Harry straightened and lowered his shields.
As the duel continued, Harry and Draco forgot their surroundings. The only thing they could see was each other. It wasn’t really a battle. It was more like a dance when both boys moved together. They didn’t notice they reduced their duelling range and got closer to each other.
Harry began to feel very hot from the exercise and when a bead of sweat made its way down and clung on Harry’s mouth, Draco was momentarily transfixed. Not missing a beat, the raven-haired disarmed the blonde with an “Expelliarmus!”.
Shaking off his distraction the Slytherin advanced unarmed. He swung his legs against Potter's, so the Gryffindor fell onto the ground. Getting up quickly, Harry threw his wand away, wanting to have a fair fistfight. And soon the boys were engaged in physical combat, their dance getting an edge rougher.
At last, Harry had Draco pinned beneath him. Breathing heavily, he triumphantly looked down to the blonde. Draco leaned up to whisper in Harry’s ear, “I win, Potter!” And with that, the Slytherin swiftly reversed their positions, so he was now straddling a baffled Gryffindor.
Harry made to get up and tackle Draco down again, and probably kiss him because, damn, a sweaty, breathless Draco was irresistible. But Luna got between them and declared the duel ended in a draw.
Luna pulled both boys up, congratulated them on their beautiful performance and awarded them each with a kiss to the cheek, and gave them a necklace of radishes as some kind of medal. Draco looked perplexed at his radish necklace and laughed.
Draco’s expression was so open, unguarded, his whole composure crumbling under uncontrolled giggling. Harry could only stare at the blonde with wide eyes as realization hit him. The black-haired boy felt it not only in his chest, but his soul was aching for the blonde. This was more than physical attraction. This was more than just a little feeling. Hermione was right, Harry liked Draco. Not only liked but loved Draco.
“Alright there, Harry?” Ron asked concerned because Harry was staring dazedly at the now empty spot where Draco had stood for solid five minutes. “Merlin’s tits, your face is redder than a tomato. Are you getting a fever?”
Coming back to reality, Harry felt his face. It was flushing hot. He took the towel Ron was offering. “Thanks, mate. I’m fine. Just…realized something.”
Ron gave a Harry a funny look. “You would tell us if something was up, right?”
“’Course”, the black-haired boy tried to smile encouragingly but knew he was failing when Ron just frowned.
Making up his mind, Harry sighed. “Let’s get back to the others, ok? I tell you tonight. But right now, we have a club to run.” He clapped Ron on the shoulder and tried to focus on the students. But his mind kept wandering and his gaze kept drifting to a certain Slytherin.
That evening, Harry found himself cornered into the seats by the fire in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione cast a privacy charm and huddled closer to Ron. Meeting his friends’ expectant eyes, he scratched his head.
“Uhm, so. Ahem”, Harry really didn’t want to do this. He looked at his hands that were folded in his lap and mumbled “I like Draco.”
“Well, yeah, Harry. Everybody likes Malfoy.” Ron said. Hermione was suspiciously quiet.
Not looking up, Harry continued. “No, you don’t understand. I, uh, I like like Draco.”
“Harry, what exactly are you telling us?” Hermione asked very gently. But there was a strain in her voice like she was holding something back.
Burying his face in his hands Harry grumbled to himself. He was sure, his friends knew exactly what he meant but wanted him to say it out clearly. Sighing in defeat Harry threw his head back, staring at the ceiling. “I am in love with Draco Malfoy!” he whisper-shouted.
His friends said nothing. Glancing at them, he saw Hermione squirming in Ron’s arms. Exasperated he waved his hand dismissively. “’S okay, ‘Mione. Let it out.”
Hermione sprang to her feet and yelled “I KNEW IT!” She pointed a finger at Harry triumphantly “I TOLD YOU SO!” Then she fell back into Ron’s embrace and said satisfied, “God, that felt so good.” “You’re brilliant, ‘Mione.” Ron kissed her head.
“Ugh, love. It’s gross.” Harry made vomiting sounds.
Ron grinned. “Just wait 'til you and blondie get together. I promise to annoy you whenever you try to kiss.”
“Wait a minute. Hermione, when you realized me having feelings for Draco way before I did, you should have noticed we almost kissed at that first D.A. meeting with the Slytherins, too! You ruined my moment!” Harry cried indignantly.
“Of course, Harry. If you couldn’t admit your own feelings, it would have been irresponsible to just kiss him. Don’t be an idiot.” Hermione chastised him.
Annoyed, Harry huffed. “So, what am I going to do, now? How do I get Draco to go out with me?”
“I’m so glad, you asked!” Hermione smiled like a ceshire cat. With a swish of her wand a big scroll of parchment landed in Harry’s lap. The bespectacled boy opened it and read the title aloud “How to woo Draco Malfoy.” He looked up questioningly at his friend.
“See, Harry, I was researching pureblood customs. Draco told me much about it and recommended some books. Anyway, I took the liberty to summarize my findings and my observations about Draco. But because you are staring much more at Draco than I do, you can fill out the blanks, Harry.”
“Th-thanks, I guess?” he was a little overwhelmed.
“At least, Malfoy can’t really run away from you. Since your engaged you have all the time in the world.” Ron laughed while Harry scowled.
“So, when do I begin with this whole wooing thing?” Harry asked.
“It’s called courting. And I think the best time to strike is Christmas. Until then, just do what you’re doing all this time. I think, it’s working” with that Hermione got out a book and immediately was immersed.
“But what am I doing?” Harry mouthed to Ron who helplessly shrugged.