Yule Ball Part 2
He’s never doubting Pansy again, the suit is probably the prettiest thing he’s ever owned, and that’s saying something because his entire wardrobe costs roughly the same as a manor.
Every last piece of the material is soft and silky, which is also rare because in his experience, suits are always a little uncomfortable, but not this one. This one is perfect.
The tailcoat is navy, with a pattern of dragon’s breath flowers going up the front crease that’s left unbuttoned so the clothing under it can be seen, particularly the silk vest made of a similar fairy-like material from Jessica’s shop. Instead of lights woven into the fabric, Pansy has chosen silver flowers that complement his tailcoat. Light and flowy, with a bishop sleeve that ties at his wrist and flows over his hands, because Pansy knows how likely he is to take off his coat during the evening.
Everything has a complement, now that he thinks about it. The shoulders of his coat are low so that the high collar and beautiful silk tie can be seen, his navy pants are cut just the right length to show off his silver and white shoes. Dragon flowers seem to dance from his jacket to his vest, and though his tie is a bit old fashioned, it brings an air of sophistication he usually reserves for Malfoy Parties.
Every fiber of the suit leaves him looking like the prince from his fairy tales.
Draco slips on a few silver rings, makes sure his diamond necklace can’t be seen, that his hair is perfectly tied back with a little strand out and tucked behind his ear. He puts on some chapstick, gives himself a long once-over, appreciates how good his ass looks, and walks out the door.
“Oh darling!” Blaise whistles as he comes down the steps. Draco winks at him, bows at the oohs and ahhs coming from the adults surrounding them.
Narcissa cups his cheeks with little tears in her eyes, “You look so handsome, love.”
“Literally like a prince.” Sirius comments.
“Like,” Remus continues, “Weirdly like a prince, are you sure you can’t royalty?”
“We’re not.” Sirius and all three of the Malfoys answer. Draco rolls his eyes, listening to Blaise’s footsteps near him.
“You might as well be.”
“Please, you're the one that clearly came from a fantasy.”
Pansy’s dressed Blaise just as elegantly, a beautiful twist on a classic black suit. Golden spirals decorate his cuffs, his collar, the lining of his open jacket, and the very tops of his shoes. His tie is different from Draco’s, a butterfly bow-tie with long wings held in place with an emerald jewel. Emerald boots that click on the ground when he walks.
They could be princes from neighboring kingdoms for the night. They certainly look the part. And if they’re the princes then Pansy must be-
“Dear Merlin,” Narcissa breathes, a small smile forming on her lips.
Draco and Blaise turn around, just to be stunned. They may be the princes at this ball, but there’s no denying that Pansy is the princess.
She smiles as she comes down, dark hair cascading down her left in delicate curls, and her dress. Holy shit, her dress.
A sleek tan bodice made of fucking stars clings to her curves, coming out like wings on her sides that start at her hips and flow onto the steps. Her sleeves are completely see through, stars twinkling on lace and bunching at her wrists. Because she isn’t shining enough, she holds the right side of her skirt up to show off her crystal heels.
“Stunning.” Draco greets her at the stairs, offering a hand down the last few steps, he takes a moment to appreciate the shimmer eye-shadow and glossy lips smiling back at him.
“Oh! You wore your hair just the way I imagined, it’s perfect, love. And you!” She turns to Blaise, “It fits better than I thought. Oh, you both look so lovely.”
“So do you,” Belle approaches, the rest close behind, “Your mother is going to be so upset she missed this for a business trip.”
“You’ll send her a picture, won’t you?”
Narcissa already has a wizard’s camera in her hand. “You’ll have to move, show off your shine, dear. And might I say, you’ve grown to be more beautiful than your grandmother.”
Pansy beams with pride, pulling Draco and Blaise in for the photo. They laugh, Pansy shows off her dress, the boys take pictures with and without their jackets, and then Draco finally has enough and kisses his mother on the cheek.
“You’re going to make them late, Sissy,” Sirius sighs, patting Draco’s shoulder. He hugs the boy, hands him off to Remus for a hug, and right back to Narcissa for one final goodbye.
Blaise kisses Belle’s cheek, Pansy shakes everyone’s hands, hugging Belle and Narcissa both. And then Draco turns to his father.
“Write soon?” Is all he asks.
Lucius smiles softly, just like the man from all those years ago. Strong, soft, safe. Happy. “Of course. Go, have fun, and be safe. All of you.”
If Blaise and Pansy are surprised, they hide it well. Not a word is spoken until they’re back in Snape’s office, LuLu in tow.
“That was…..”
Draco cuts them off. “We’ll deal with it later. If we don’t hurry we’ll be late.”
Snape let’s them leave the few items they brought back in his room, probably just to get them out faster. As soon as Draco kisses LuLu’s forehead the three of them are out the door and rushing towards the first floor.
Theo’s waiting with Millie and Astoria, annoyed and red in the face despite looking like he’s just walked off the night sky.
Much like Pansy, his suit is made of stars, complemented by a black coat and slacks. Draco can just make out a line of abs beneath the shiny silk shirt. It’s great to look at, but his face…
“Where have you been? Have you any idea what time it is? We’re going to be late!”
“And for good reason,” Pansy rolls her eyes, “Calm down, love, your face is all blotchy.”
Theo looks one second away from making a scene, but Millie grabs his arm and shakes her head, Pansy’s done a wonderful job on her dress as well. Simple, yet perfect for the girl if you know her. Millie hates fancy things, dresses, makeup, the whole ordeal annoys her, but she looks beautiful. A periwinkle mermaid cut, hanging off curves that he honestly had no idea she had. Like seriously, he knows she works out and all, but he had no idea she has an hourglass under all those big sweaters. He takes a second to compliment her jewelry, a v shaped silver necklace that hangs off her collarbones, and some simple dangle earrings, and then turns to kiss Astoria’s hand.
“So sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Nonsense,” She eyes him up, “I hate to compliment you, but you look like a prince tonight.”
Draco smirks, “And here I thought I looked different from normal.”
Pansy hits him on his shoulder, but Blaise is laughing so he takes it as a win and steps back to properly look at his ‘date’.
Apparently, couples should match, which explains why her traditional ball gown dress is navy, but instead of flower patterns she has actual dragon flowers on the bottom on her skirt, dancing up the sides and on her belt.
“If Pansy weren’t next to me I’d call you a princess.”
“Yes, I agree. Though I think you insult her with such a title.” Pansy raises an eyebrow, but Astoria just smiles. “Queen is much more befitting.”
Pansy links arms with her, “I know Draco is supposed to be your date, but if you’d like a dance-”
“Excuse me,” Draco steps in between them, “Don’t we still have to get Millie’s date? And Blaise’s for that matter? Moon over Astoria on your own time, love.”
Pansy glares at him, but does take Theo’s arm and begin walking towards the doorway.
Astoria smiles at him, “I hope you know I’ll be taking her up on that offer.”
“If you're going to sleep with my best friend, at least let her dance with me before the night ends. I’ll settle for a quick waltz, we only have until midnight you know.”
“Have you not heard?”
Draco raises an eyebrow, watching a Durmstrang boy bow to Millie before taking her arm. Across from them Blaise is smiling at who appears to be Alice.
“The Beauxbatons' are throwing a party tonight, nearly everyone has been invited. I’m surprised, I thought you and Fleur were close?”
“We are. She’s family, but I haven’t exactly been available the past week and she’s very spontaneous. I’ll probably hear about it sometimes tonight.”
“Planning on stealing her away from her date?”
Draco snorts, “Naturally.”
Whoever decorated the Hogwarts’ Ballroom deserves a raise. Lights hang from the ceilings and walls like icicles, fountains of food line the back wall, the floor itself seems to be made of stone that reflects the night sky. It’s almost as stunning as Pansy’s creations, but because they’ve arrived so late they have to push through the crowds to be at the front.
No way in hell is he missing Harry’s entrance.
The lights dim, chatter dies down, and McGonagall’s voice sounds throughout the ballroom.
“Please welcome the Triwizard Champions.”
He’s so fucking excited.
“From Beauxbaton's Academy of Magic, Miss Fleur Delacour and her date, Ronald Weasley.”
Holy fucking shit- Draco needs a few years to get over Ron being Fleur’s date, and then a few more years to get over how good they look together. Next to him, Pansy is very annoyed.
“I can’t believe he didn’t tell me! I could’ve matched them!”
But they match beautifully, Ron’s maroon suit looks nothing like the fourteenth century dress robes they once were, and next to him Fleur is…
Pansy would find a way to make her even more beautiful.
Her gown is pale pink, not skin tight, but hanging from her waist like water. A cape of the same pale blush is clasped in a tall collar on her throat, pressed down on her shoulders and flowing like long sleeves of lace. She looks like some sort of French god, and Merlin he’s nearly shining with pride. Fleur spots him in the crowd and smiles, making her way to her designated spot in the middle of the room.
“Merlin,” Draco whispers to Pansy while clapping, “Fleur is-”
“From Durmstrang Institute, Victor Krum and his date, Hermione Granger.”
Fuck, he was not prepared for Hermione. Her sweetheart bodice glitters with ruby flowers that line her tan dress, it comes in at her waist, similar to Astoria’s ball gown shape but the skirt is bigger, the train shimmering with roses as she smiles shyly at the crowd and her hair. Someone’s taken the time to get rid of the frizz, turning the normal mane of curls into sleek waves that fall down her back.
“Fuck Pans, you really-”
“From Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Cedric Diggory and his date, Cho Chang.”
Draco knows Pansy didn’t personally design her dress, or Cedric’s tux, but they both look stunning.
Cedric is dressed in a traditional creme changshan, matching perfectly with Cho’s creme hafu. They look wonderful, like a couple meant to be together. Those two only have eyes for each other, kinda like McGonagall only has the timing to interrupt him.
“Oh! Next is-”
“Also from Hogwarts, Harry Potter and his date, Luna Lovegood.”
He sees Luna first, and holy fuck she’s never looked so beautiful. A trumpet dress with a light grey bodice, rainbow like silk starts at her thighs and comes out to complete the trumpet at the bottom. It’s perfect for her, all the colors on something no one would make a formal dress from.
Draco’s about to compliment Pansy once again, and then he sees Harry and his mouth promptly falls open.
Mother of Merlin...he’s so royally fucked.
The champions line up to dance, but Draco can’t take his eyes away. Even with the flashes of cameras and people whispering around him he can’t. Not when Harry looks like that. When his hair looks softer than ever, when his waist is fully on display, when he’s shining like the only person in the room.
“Draco?”
“Draco!”
He forces himself to look away, back at his date and Pansy.
Astoria takes a step towards him, “Care to dance?”
“Yeah.” Draco manages, internally shaking himself. “Yes, I’m sorry. Let’s dance.”
The dance between him and Astoria lasts all of ten minutes before Pansy cuts in. Not that either of them mind, reporters got bored of their photo op within the first three minutes, Draco just hopes they got a good picture.
“Where’s Theo?”
“With Justin.” Pansy snorts.
They swirl around cameras, looking over to the food and watching Justin Fletch-Fetchly blushing at whatever Theo is saying in his ear.
“They’ll be fucking by the end of the night.”
“That is the goal.”
Draco dips her, “We’re fourteen, love. Isn’t that a little early?”
“Not if he’s ready, and trust me when I say he’s ready.”
Pansy dances with him until they get hungry and go to meet Blaise and Alice by the tarts. Lemon, his fucking favorite. Granted, he barely gets two down his throat before Fleur taps his shoulder.
“Care to dance?”
No way in Merlin’s great name is he missing out on a dance with Fleur in that dress. He takes her hand and leads her out to the dance-floor, ignoring the camera flashes.
“Ron Weasley as your date, huh?”
“You approve?” Fleur smiles, “Since you’re so sweet on Harry I figured you wouldn’t mind, he was the only boy to ask without stuttering and I would feel bad if he was the only one of his friends who did not get to dance with the Champions.”
“An angel, that’s what you are.”
Fleur smiles, they pass Pansy and Astoria on the dance floor, moving over to Hermione and Krum.
“You look lovely,” Draco whispers as he and Fleur twirl out and in.
He’s not sure if Hermione hears him, but then she smiles and says ‘you do too’ before Krum dances her away.
When Fleur comes back to face him she rolls her eyes.
“It is so silly how you pretend to hate them, wouldn’t it be better if you could be with your friends freely?”
“Yes, but that can’t happen yet. We must be enemies for now, wait until the time is right and all that.”
Fleur considers this as they begin a waltz, quite like she’s trying to give Draco times to think, but he’s thought about it already. Yes, he is sick and tired of hiding his friendships, but he wants so much more than to just talk with Harry. He wants to run a hand through the boy’s curls, stare into emerald eyes, be the cause for a laugh, the reason behind a smile. Being open about a friendship and being open about how badly he wants to kiss his so called “enemy” are two completely different things. Even if he wants both of them so bad he can’t sleep some nights.
“Come to my party tonight.”
“Party?” Draco asks, like he didn’t hear about from Astoria an hour ago, like he wasn’t just thinking about green eyes.
“Yes, I’ve invited all the schools to the carriage for a unity party. That’s what the tournament is all about, correct? Why we are all here? If you will not allow yourself the comfort of being with them- being with him- allow yourself this. It is okay to want happiness.”
They pass by the Twins, all smiles and laughter. Draco can’t get the image of Harry smiling out of his head. This topic is a little too heavy for a fun night.
“You didn’t need to beg, I’ll come to your party.”
Fleur steps on his toes.
So, dancing isn’t as bad as he thought it would be.
That or Luna is a really good dancer.
Harry’s money is on both.
Though he does spend a good thirty minutes staring at Draco and Fleur while trying to connect a tart with his lips.
“A little up.” Hermione helps, guiding his hand.
“Honestly,” Ron sighs, “We went through all that trouble to get you all dressed up and you’re getting lemon all over your face.”
“Sorry.”
But he’s so not. Not when he gets to oogle Draco and picture what it would be like if he were in Fleur’s position.
Krum comes to whisk Hermione away, and before he can ask Luna if she’d like to dance again, she’s off with Ginny. Oh well, he can meet them at Fleur’s party later. He’s turning to Ron to see if his best friend would like a dance when Cedric and Cho come up to them.
“Harry! Enjoying the tarts?”
Cho hands him a napkin. “You have a bit on your chin.”
Godric, how embarrassing. “Yeah, sorry I was just-”
“Looking at Draco?” Cedric asks, all casual, grabbing some punch.
Harry chokes. Ron, the traitor, laughs.
“I wasn’t-him?! No! I would never he-”
“Looks amazing in his suit? Parkinson did a wonderful job on the robes.”
Ron joins him in speechlessness.
“How did you know?”
Cho smiles. “Ravenclaws, we notice the obvious. And Ceddie here is a Huffle, they notice strong relationships. You shouldn’t count us out just because we’re not brave or resourceful.”
Harry is once again trying to find words when Cedric rolls his eyes and grabs his hand.
“Come on, Potter, we’re dancing.”
He leads, and for some reason Harry has no issue following even though he was barely passing dance lessons with the Gang.
“So, about you and Draco-”
“There is nothing between us but hate, and-and meanness. I mean, have you seen us? We very much dislike each other.”
“Sure you do.” Cedric drawls, “And Cho and I are just friends, Fleur is actually a brunette, and Krum definitely doesn’t know a few dark spells.”
Harry glares. “Your point, please.”
“My point is that you should give the gag up. It looks painful, afterall, wouldn’t you rather be dancing with him?”
Godric, yes. He hasn’t gotten to dance with Draco yet, and he can’t lie that it’s been featured in a few of his dreams. Like the one where they’re dancing in front of a fireplace, or in a garden at sunset. Sometimes he can feel the warmth of the boy’s body even after he’s woken. Feel the ghost of a hand on his waist, the faint fleeting touch of lips...
But all of that doesn’t matter because-
“He’s my enemy and I hate him.” Harry really hopes his cheeks aren’t as red as they feel.
“You’re not very good at lying, do you know that?”
He is painfully aware. Lying has never been his strong suit, but deflecting always works.
“Shut up. Dance me back to your girlfriend.”
“Okay, okay. All I’m saying is that you deserve to be happy, both of you. And if you’re happy with him then there’s no reason to keep up the act. If it gets tiring to watch, I can’t imagine what it’s like to do it.”
“You know what would make me happy? A lemon tart, also you’re about to hit the Twins if you don’t go more to the right.”
Cedric laughs, but he does waltz them back to the tables and dances away with Cho like he gives relationship advice daily. He probably does, it seems like something he’d do.
“What was that about?” Ron asks, offering him a glass of punch.
Harry wishes he knew.
He ends up dancing with a few more people. Ron, and then the twins, Ginny, Luna again, Cho asks for a quick one while Cedirc uses the restroom, Krum ends up passing him from partner to partner, which was a little awkward at the beginning but eventually made him laugh. Even Fleur demands a dance before he’s tired and fully ready to go to bed.
But fuck, he agreed to go to the party.
Why does he always do this to himself?
Harry looks out to the crowd of dancers, spotting all of his friends. Luna and Ginny slow-dance next to Dean and Seamus, the twins are laughing with Ron and Fleur at the food tables, Hermione and Krum are tucked away in a corner talking quietly. Neville is surprisingly with Theodore Nott and Justin Finch-Fletchley, which makes no sense but he seems happy so Harry doesn’t interfere. Pansy and Draco waltz around the ballroom, looking like a pair of professional dancers. Millie and Blaise hang around their dates, and though it takes a second to find Cedric, he and Cho are still gazing into each other’s eyes.
Everyone is fairly distracted, and there’s still thirty minutes until midnight. That’s plenty of time to catch a breather.
He sneaks out the front door of the ball room, thankful for the cool air despite the snow outside. A light a few feet away catches his eyes, he creeps closer.
“You must be more careful.”
Oh fuck, he’d know that voice anywhere.
Harry ducks behind a pillar, peeking out to see Snape and Ellios, both dressed in black dress robes that appear to match. Did they go together? Like dates? Are teachers dating now? What has the world come to?
“I know.” Ellios sighs, “I have been dealing with him for years now, you would think I would be better about my control.”
Snape shakes his head, “You were right to do what you did. I don’t care how much Igor dislikes Potter, there was no need for him to speak of a student like that.”
What the fuck?
“I am surprised you did not say anything.” Ellios giggles. “He is one of your students, I know you do not take well to them being insulted.”
“Well, you beat me to the punch. Besides, Potter might be annoying but he hasn’t died yet. We need to stay on our toes if what we suspect is true.”
“We have known about His return for a while, have we not? Dumbledore is gathering allies, that is why he brought the Tournament back, correct?”
Snape sighs, “He hasn’t returned yet, not fully. There are rumors, whispers in the dark, but no one is sure. Dumbledore…..nothing is certain. Have you warned Willie?”
“Yes. After our first night I spoke with him…. he is frightened.”
“He shouldn’t be.” Snape smiles. “He’s a student, we won’t let our students suffer like they did last time.”
Ellios cups his face. “You were a student last time...we all were, Severus. You just wish for them to avoid the suffering you endure.”
Harry senses where this is going and decides now is a prime time to get out before he sees something he doesn't want to see, or hears something that confuses him even more than Snape having a heart. He sneaks further down the hall, fully planning on making his way to the Gang’s Room and having some hot chocolate when he runs right into someone’s back.
Warm hands wound around his waist, pulling him into a firm chest so he doesn’t end up on his ass. Harry’s rushing out an apology when a familiar cologne hits him. He’s had this dream before.
“Potter.”
Grey eyes twinkle down at him, all happy and warm despite being the color of ice.
“Malfoy.”
He tries to make his voice cold and distant, but it’s dripping with fondness even worse than his smile is.
Not that Draco’s doing better, smile as soft as the silk on his shirt that Harry’s still clutching too. That realization hits him like a brick to the head.
He’s standing in the middle of an outdoor corridor, in the arms of his ‘enemy’ where anyone could walk by and see them. And yes, Draco is warm and smells good and fuck he’s so pretty-
Harry feels his cheeks warm three seconds before Draco chuckles.
“Relax, I made sure no one followed me. Had to make sure everyone’s favorite Scarface wasn’t up to anything.”
Draco releases him to take a step back, still smiling softly. Harry’s brain takes a second to boot back up, but then he’s stepping towards the boy with a grin.
“Just needed some air before Fleur’s party.”
“You’re going?”
“Aren’t you?”
Draco falls into step next to him, “Of course. What type of cousin would I be if I didn’t attend her party?”
Harry keeps his mouth shut so he can’t say something stupid, like call Draco perfect. But, if he doesn’t answer that could get awkward too so Harry bumps his shoulder as they turn a corner.
“Going to follow me all night long?”
Draco raises an eyebrow. “Do you want me to go away?”
“What? No! Godric no, I was just um, well I was just getting air and-”
“There.” Draco points out into the night where a little white gondola is. Tucked away from the sight of the main track back to the castle, but close enough to hear music from the ballroom. “That’s a good place to get air. Do you need water too?”
“No,” Harry lets him lead the way, “Thank you, though.”
Godric it’s so awkward. And then he makes the mistake of shivering and Draco offers him an arm. “For warmth, I left my jacket inside.” From then it’s wonderful. Draco keeps him close, leading him around snow and bits of ice on the ground until they’re sitting on a stone bench, which is a lot worse because fuck his ass is freezing but at least he has Draco and music.
“You know…” Draco begins after a moment. “I think you’re the only one of my friends I haven’t gotten to dance with.”
Harry’s heart skips a beat.
“I think you might be right...strange because I do remember you being the best dancer.”
“You were the worst.”
Harry looks away, just so Draco can’t see his blush. Not that he’s blushing, oh who is he kidding? He’s definitely bright red, but who can blame him? Out in the cold with one of the most beautiful people he’s ever seen, about to say something incredibly stupid. Flirting...Sirius is going to be so proud.
“Maybe if you had taught me I would be better.”
Draco stiffens beside him, “Are you asking for a lesson?”
“If you’re willing to give it to me.”
Neither of them move, like they’re both frozen to the spot. Considering their next move, because if Harry is wrong this could ruin their relationship entirely. And then Draco slowly stands up, leaving Harry’s side cold, but bowing and extending a hand.
“I’d be honored to dance with you.”
What a sap, Harry loves it.
He takes Draco’s hand, lets the boy pull him to his feet. It’s different from dancing with everyone else.
Draco wounds one arm around his waist, he can feel muscles and heat with every movement. The other hand comes up to hold his, gentle and soft to the touch. Weird how his hands are so cold but his body is so warm. Harry’s heart is pounding, they take the first step.
Draco takes it slow until Harry gets comfortable, and then picks up the pace. They dance around the gondola to the beat of music they can barely hear, hesitantly smiling, embracing warmth Harry didn’t really know existed.
“You’ve gotten better.” Draco comments. His cheeks are red too.
“It’s my partner.”
“Yes, well...he’s perfect until the clock strikes midnight.”
Harry laughs, “Like Cinderella? When the clock strikes will you trade your prince robes for party gear?”
“Silly Scarface, my prince robes are my party gear.”
They laugh through a spin that Draco cuts a little too close, which means Harry ends up flush against him, nose to nose, chest to chest, heart to heart.
“Hi there.” Draco whispers.
Harry is going to get lost at sea if he keeps looking in those eyes. “Hi.”
The dancing slows to a halt until they’re swaying, still closer than they’ve been before.
“Do you ever wish we could do this without hiding?” Harry whispers.
“Well it would certainly be warmer.”
He can’t keep himself from chuckling. “You know what I mean.”
“Of course I do. It’s very exhausting to pretend to hate you. You mean a lot to me, you know.”
The swaying stops all together. Cedric’s words echo in his head. It is exhausting to pretend.
Harry’s eyes flicker down to Draco’s lips, then back up to meet his gaze.
“Fleur…” Draco begins, “She said a few interesting things to me tonight.”
They’re inching closer, he can taste lemon tarts and sparkling punch.
“What did she say?”
Their words of slowing, Harry can count each of the stars shining in the taller’s eyes.
“That I’m allowed to want happiness.”
Draco’s hand comes up to tilt his face up and then hesitates like he’s waiting for a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Of course the answer is ‘yes’.
Harry meets him halfway, pushing his head up through the inch that’s left and they’re kissing.
He’s been waiting months, no, at least a year to do this. Since last year when he realized how pretty Draco looks, even at the end of a hospital bed. Since he realized the boy is funny, and sweet, weirdly kind, and one hell of a kisser.
Dammit all if he doesn’t pull Draco closer, deepen the kiss, chasing for more. More of whatever he’s feeling, more happiness. More Draco.
But, unfortunately, they both have lungs. And lungs need air, which means they have to break apart eventually.
“You-” Harry pants, embarrassingly out of breath.
Draco’s not doing much better, “Yes. You? I thought they were only looking at me!”
“Who’s they?”
“Pans, Blaise, Ron, Hermione, the gang. Did you not notice the looks they gave me every time we sat together?”
“Excuse you, those were my looks.”
Draco freezes, both eyebrows shooting up in disbelief , and then they’re laughing, pausing to kiss one more time and holy shit it’s the best part of his year.
All the times he totally almost died are completely worth it for this moment.
“I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you tonight,” Draco mummers, brushing thick curls behind Harry’s ear, “You’re stunning.”
“You took the lines right out of my mouth.”
“I know, I know. I look like a prince.”
Harry laughs, “Full of yourself, aren’t you?”
Instead of answering Draco just kisses him again, bringing him in by the waist and smiling against his lips.
It’s all very sweet and wonderful, a moment Harry’s only read about or seen in movies that he’s technically not allowed to watch. The midnight bells toll, smashing their little bubble to pieces, they jump apart like they’ve been burned.
Wide green eyes meet wide blue eyes, they’ll have to leave soon, and after tonight all their worries will come spiraling back. But for now they can slowly come back together, revel in the soft glow of happiness, pull each other in for one more kiss.
“We should get to Fleur’s.”
Draco holds out his hand, “I’ll walk you.”
Harry looks at that hand, has so many memories of what an outstretched hand means between them. He’s half tempted to say ‘no, I can find it myself’ just to be funny. But instead he intertwines their fingers.
“Where did you go?!” Blaise yells over the music, “Pans has your jacket!”
“I was busy!” Draco yells back, forcing his eyes not to look at Harry.
Of course, by trying not to look at Harry, he ends up staring right at the boy and smiling something awful.
Blaise smirks, “Took you long enough!”
Draco barely hears him through the music, but it doesn’t matter. Tonight has been wonderful. Because looking the part of a fairy tale wasn’t enough, he actually got to live it. Got to laugh and dance with his friends, worries at the back of his mind. Got to eat his favorites, sees his parents, form some weird truce with his father
And then there’s Harry.
Getting to slow dance with him, hold him close and know that for a moment he wasn’t just safe, he was happy. They both were. When the two of them were alone in that gondola, there were no nightmares. No anxieties, no fear over how Harry would die, no worries about enemies that could lurk in the darkness surrounding their little haven. It was something Draco didn’t think he would’ve gotten to experience if it wasn’t for Fleur’s reminder.
He deserves happiness, and if it keeps trying to run from him, Draco will tie it down and stake it to his life.
Speaking of Fleur, he should probably look around for her. Not that it’s ever hard to find her, it’s just that Party Fleur tends to get out of hand and-
“Draco! My darling!” Something wet slaps his cheeks, but he recognizes the voice, “You made it! How wonderful, you’re very wonderful, the perfect little cousin…”
Draco laughs a bit, turning to see that Fleur has stripped down to an under-dress, completely red in the face but smiling like there’s no tomorrow, behind her Alice and Ron watch on.
“Sorry about my date,” Ron offers.
Draco has to fight the friendliness off. Just in case someone is still sober enough to remember anything tomorrow. “It’s fine. Alice, would you mind telling Blaise where we’ve gone? I’m going to get her some water.”
“And Draco some alcohol.” Fleur chirps in, dangling off his body like an oversize earring.
“And myself some alcohol, apparently. If you’ll excuse us.”
Walking with Fleur attached to his shoulder is more funny than annoying, but walking with a drunk Fleur when Pansy sneaks up on him is something else all together.
“You made it!” His best friend sighs, adding herself to his free arm. “Took you long enough. She’s very drunk, you know.”
“You are too, where’s the damn bar?”
“By the speakers...Theo and Finch-Fletchley just left to fuck, you owe me ten gallons.”
“Have Thomas and Finnegan left yet?”
Pansy frowns.
Draco smiles.
“You owe me ten gallons.”
“Call it even?”
“If you help me with Fleur.”
Pansy sighs like it’s her worst task in life, but she does release him and appears at Fleur’s other side. Hauling her over to the bar with help is much easier, getting water from a Bebuxton boy is surprisingly difficult.
“She said to only give her alcohol,” He’s pretty, almost Theo pretty, but he’s no Harry. Draco blushes, accidentally thinking about the kiss that’s still lingering on him, and then sighs.
“Fine then, a water for me and booze for her.”
That the boy can work with, he doesn’t even bat an eye when Draco forces the water down his cousin’s throat and downs whatever is in the cup. It stings like bourbon but goes down like wine, probably some mix, but it’s good so Draco gets a refill and lets Pansy drag him out to the dance floor.
Much different from the ball. Instead of eloquent circles, careful arches, and calculated steps everything here is sloppy and dirty. People jump up and down, some grind into each other, he’s pretty sure Millie is three seconds from having full out sex with her Durmstrang boy. Draco looks the other way for that one, casually flicking his wand their general direction and giggling when the boy looks a little confused. Call him over-protective, but he doesn’t like how the boy seems to hold Millie against her will. Besides, the confusion spell will only last a few minutes, long enough for his friend to get away if she wants to.
Pansy is in a playful drunk mood tonight, dancing Draco around in wild circles before attaching herself to Blaise. Draco watches them laugh and make funny little motions with their bodies before looking over and catching green eyes.
Why did they go to the party again?
Oh yeah, for the burn of alcohol that’s missing from Draco’s throat.
He returns to the bar, and the Bebuxton Boy just gives him five cases of something and a shrug, “You’re related to Fleur, this should give you a nice buzz.”
Draco returns the favor with a ‘thank you’ and a smile, and then makes his way to sneak out of the room.
Hermione and Krum are kissing in a corner, which should make Ron jealous but the boy is a little too busy taking care of Fleur to notice. Ginny and Luna were exiled from the party, thank Merlin. He’d hate to watch his little cousin do anything like Blaise and his date are doing, not to mention Pansy who has abandoned her quest for booze and is currently trying to be sneaky about whatever her and Astoria are getting up to. He can’t spot Theo, but to be fair he can’t spot Finch-Fletchley either, and Millie is being handed water by Lavender Brown and the Patil twins. His own set of twins is missing, but he can’t figure out who they’ve gone with and when he realizes he’s being watched he couldn’t care less.
Draco casts one more quick look around, shrinking his bottles and putting them in his pocket. He makes sure all of his friends are safe and look happy, and then he sneaks out of the back door, down the ramp, and to the side of the manor-sized carriage.
The door creaks open after a second, light footsteps follow his path, pausing at the ends of the stairs.
Harry looks around, spots him opening a bottle, and smiles. “Well, if anyone asks we were there.”
“Yes, we were just a bit late. It’s hard to get into a party when everyone else is drunk.”
Harry closes the space between them, opening the bottle in one quick movement. “I didn’t plan on staying long in the first place.”
“Oh? Did you have a different plan?” A bit of the boy’s curls are falling into his eyes, Draco has the urge to brush them behind his ear but he can’t- Draco’s eyes widen. He can. He can touch now, kiss now, do small gestures he’s been holding back on. Like brushing soft hair out of Harry’s eyes.
He feels more than he sees the blush. “Do you want to see Geia with me? I have a gift I wanted to give her before I went to sleep.”
Draco’s already leading him towards the castle, offering the bottle, keeping him close just because he can.
Geia senses it before he can say it.
“You have finally made your move. I can smell the happiness radiating from the two of you, your scents...they’re beginning to mingle.”
Harry rolls his eyes, blushing hard at the idea of his scent mingling completely with Draco’s. He shakes his head, he is so not ready for that that. “We did, but I didn’t come here for that.”
Geia sighs, she’s been teasing him about this since the beginning of their relationship, he’ll probably have to tell her all about it later. But, for now..
“I’ve brought you a present.”
“Why?”
He watches idly as Draco unshrinks another bottle, pulling them literally out of thin air and draining them. The boy-his boyfriend holy fuck- has already passed seven. Harry has no idea how he does it, he’s only had one cup and he already feels a little dizzy.
“It’s Christmas today. The 25th of December, it is a day to celebrate friends and family.”
“Is that why your boy is attempting to drown himself in liquor?”
Harry snorts, ignoring Draco pulling out another bottle. “No, um, he just has a high tolerance, apparently. And no, I did not bring you booze. Gimme a sec.”
He grabs his wand with his freehand, trying to remember the summoning spell that Draco taught him. The one that he always uses for homework and projects. It takes a second and a sip of one of Draco’s bottles, but then he’s holding a box in his hand, nearly dropping his wand in the process.
“It’s nothing big, just something for when you miss us. I know one day a week isn’t enough, but hopefully this will keep you company.”
‘Nothing big’ translates to his muggle clothes, seeing how his Slytherin friends decided to get him a new wardrobe for Christmas, he has no need for Dudley’s oversized clothes anymore. He’d gotten Dobby to help him knit a blanket out of them, the elf had stretched the material and told him it was a great idea, but watching Geia sniff it makes him nervous.
“It smells like you...it is soft…”
“Ah, yes, I mean…”
Draco looks towards them, stumbling a bit. “Did you get her a blanket? I hope she likes it, I got her something too.”
Godric, how in the hell are his words not slurring at this point? The only evidence of his drinking is a faint pink lingering on his cheeks, but that could honestly just be the cold.
“Your boy has also-”
Before Geia can complete her sentence Draco’s wand is out and a big staff appears, it looks vaguely familiar, like he’s seen it in a dream or something.
Geia freezes the second it appears in the room.
“Tell her my mum had it, something about grave-robbers and catching them red-handed. There’s a story behind it…” Draco pouts, all cute and adorable. Harry wants to kiss him again, but not in front of the snake he accidentally, kinda on purpose, blinded. It’s a bit of a mood-killer. “Oh, fuck it, I can’t remember.”
Geia takes the blanket in her mouth, drapes it across her giant pillow in one swift movement, and then gently does the same with the staff.
“I cannot believe it still smells of him after all these years….” She swivels her head towards them, “This boy….the two of you...how peculiar the turn of events are…”
“What do you mean?”
“I find it interesting that a Potter would save me one again, and that someone like your boy can be who he is….return my precious Asklepios’s staff to me...heal me and protect you the way he does…I am honored to be apart of your story.”
“No,” Harry bows even though she can’t see it, “We are honored to be a part of yours.”
He knows Draco can’t understand a word they’re saying, but he bows too, and then Geia’s snorting, telling them to get some rest, which sounds great. Falling into a bed, or even a chair at this point, would be the cherry on top of his night. But doing that would mean leaving Draco, who’s still drinking and offering him drinks, so instead of parting ways Harry sneaks them out of the bathroom, down a few stories, and right to the Gang’s Room, still dressed up for Christmas.
“Don’t spill on your robes, Pans’ll kill you.”
They’re throwing pillows down by the fireplace, fully intending on laying down before the night is over, and honestly that is a very good point.
“Don’t spill on your robes.”
Bottles linger around the room, it honestly looks like Draco took the whole bar with him, and Harry’s not complaining. He’s perfectly buzzed, happy and warm, pausing every few seconds to look at Draco.
“My robes?” Draco’s brows furrow for a second, and then he shrugs and begins unbuttoning his shirt.
“Draco?!” Harry yells, averting his eyes.
“What? You can’t sleep in formal robes! They’ll wrinkle, and Pansy will murder me if I wrinkle her work. She’s very protective.”
He does make a good point. So good, in fact, that Harry unbuttons his own shirt until he’s down to his socks and undergarments. Draco doesn’t look, sliding under the covers right next to the fireplace and turning away until Harry’s sliding in next to him.
“Who do you think won the bet?”
Draco takes a second to consider this, rolling over to face him, “Mmmm….probably Luna. She knows everything. It’s a Lovegood thing.”
“Aren’t you related to her?” Harry mumbles, laying his head down so their hairs mingle in the space between.
Draco shrugs, hands finding his under the covers, playing with their fingers while he talks, “I’m related to a lot of people, my family’s been around forever you know.”
“Will you tell me about them?”
Draco nods, but his eyes are drooping. To be fair, Harry can barely focus on the movement of their fingers. The fire cracks behind them, and it’s warm and safe under these blankets. Plus, he has Draco right next to him...breathing in and out in a rhythm that’s easy to follow right into the bliss of sleep.
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