Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
April 12
Trust Sev to make sure that this hallway is cold as fuck even in April. Draco thinks as he makes his way to his godfather's office. Today is the day he is going to break the news of his relationship with Harry and he is pretty confident that Sev will break Pansy's record for overreaction.
Better to get this over with after all he still has dinner to worry about.
Just when he is about to round the corner he hears purring.
Viper.
"Hey, there." He bends down to pick up the little cat. And Severus comes looking for her.
"Draco. Found the beast I see."
"Oh come on, she is a cutie." He replies."Mother is out I take it."
Mother always gives viper to Severus for safekeeping when she has to go out.
He already received a response from her and he is going to discuss it with Harry later tonight.
The two of them make their way inside the workroom.
"Yes, and while she is out enjoying cuisines of the world this one," he said pointing at Viper, "is toppling my cauldrons."
"Hmm, what are you brewing."
"Pomfrey's inventory."
The potion room was a mess, the usual when Mother dropped Viper here. They both set out cleaning up all the spillage.
With a couple of waves of both their wands, the room was spotless.
Severus started to brew two cauldrons of skele gro while Draco sits with viper on his lap and plays with her until she falls asleep.
"Done brewing that batch?"
"Yes. Go and check on the Wolfsbane."
"Oh yes! Finally!"
Draco almost leaps to the cauldron kept in the far end of the room.
"Temper your excitement a bit. And be careful, spilling incomplete potions can do irreparable damage."
Draco takes off the spell cast on the cauldron.
"Needs to simmer for 2 more minutes. I can crush moonstone by then."
"Hmm. You're learning."
Two minutes later he adds the fine powder and starts dicing the next ingredient while he waited for the color to change.
"So, I wanted to talk about something."
"I'd suggest you start with not beating around the bush then."
"Yeah of course," he continues, "I am dating someone. "
"A boy I'd guess, without Lucius around."
"Yeah."
"Hmm."
"THAT'S IT? ‘Hmm’"
"Well, you clearly have more to say. Go on then."
Wow! What was he expecting really? Well, something other than a hmm but guess that was a mistake.
"Don't you maybe want to know who he is?"
"Serious then," he says in the bored why-am-i-even-humoring-this-kid tone "who is he?"
"Harry." He looked up so fast Draco was surprised his neck didn't snap.
"A rather common name isn't it?" He said, feigning ignorance but Draco can sense a little disbelief and surprise in his tone.
"Sev, it's Potter."
He stirred his cauldron with a fervor, angry bubbling under his skin.
"The arrangement is temporary I believe."
"No, it's not."
"Do I really have to remind you why this is a bad idea? With Potter? He is a mediocre wizard, is as arrogant as his father, and is an attention-seeking vile person–"
"Sev, are you talking about Harry or his father. "
"This is ridiculous. Of all the people in the world with your inclinations did you have to get in bed with Harry Potter? Because I can assure that there are respectable Slytherin men who would be honored to replace Potter."
"I don't want him replaced. I love him. And I want to stay with him. I am telling this to you because you are family and I didn't think you would appreciate finding it out from the newspaper somewhere down the line."
"So Potter is fine with the fact that you once insulted his dear friends with the worst of intentions."
And if that wasn't the height of hypocrisy, for him to act as he didn't mock Granger's teeth among other things. And call the weasel names. Trust Sev to hit him where it hurts.
"We have discussed our past at length and yes, I haven't the memory of a goldfish. I remember the last few years and we have both come to terms with it. Look I don't know why you hate his father and by extension him. Neither you nor mother will tell me. But I would appreciate it if you could just be civil. I am not asking you to treat him like a son-in-law or anything. Although I would be happy if you did. But I hope you can learn to accept that it is him I choose. The wolfsbane is ready, just check if it's right." He snaps.
Draco, breathless by the end of this monologue, walks over to the couch.
Severus checks on the potion and declares it well-brewed while Draco sits next to the sleeping cat. He is surprised that Viper didn't wake up from the noise. But unlike father, Sev didn't yell at him as much as he spoke in a clipped sarcastic tone that would bring the faint-hearted to tears. But Draco, who was used to his godfather's disapproval from time to time was not much-affected by his words. Viper started to wake up and climbed into Draco's arms.
"Oh, hey there, little girl." She purred as Draco gave her a belly rub and played with her while Sev brewed more potions and sent them off with the elves.
He prepared himself for the dinner to come with his friends and Harry's friends. Somehow he didn't feel like it could go worse than this. The silence in the room between them was heavy but he hoped that Sev will learn to see some reason.
Draco was on his way out when he turned around and said," Sev, I love him. I know how this sounds to you and trust me this was just as confusing for me too, but I ask you to try and understand. That's it."
"I suppose the two have been passionate about each other even in your hatred. This shouldn't be all that surprising." He conceded.
Draco saw it for what it was, an attempt.
He made his way out.
Hogsmeade as usual was packed with excited second years but as a sixth year, Draco had grown bored of the town.
Pansy, Blaise, and Theo were already there. It looks like Draco made it right on time.
He sat down opposite them and drank a glass of water.
"Thought you wouldn't show up."
"Can't miss my own coming out, Blaise, can I?"
" Well scarhead does know how to pick a discreet place but Draco, do tell me what is the catch."
" Pansy dear, I wish I knew what you were talking about."
" Come on, Dray, we are 4 people 5 Potter included. Yet we are sitting at a table for 8. Is it expected of us to not read into it?" Theo asked.
" There is no catch." He replied unconvincingly.
" Besides he should be here at any moment."
"Can't expect Gryffindors to keep time now can we?" Blaise said exactly when they showed up.
_________
Walking down the street of Hogsmeade, Harry can is immediately struck by the fact that this is the first year he can actually enjoy this small town without having the weight of the world on his shoulders. How had he been living his life if he is only realizing it now? any further thoughts Harry may have had regarding this was cut off by Ron.
"So where are we meeting ferret face? "
"Can you not call him that?!"
Ron simply shrugged at him.
"Hogs Head to answer your question."
"I think that we have argued enough about this, Ron." Hermione scolded him. But she made sure to shoot Harry a glare.
Ron promptly shut up after that and the trio made their way into the pub to find four Slytherins already sitting at their table. They weren't usually this silent during their walks but given the circumstances, Harry is glad for it.
Under any other circumstances, the expression on Ron's face when he saw the three other Slytherins would have been comical and pensive worthy but today, it only served to fuel his anxiety.
As soon as he sat down, next to Draco obviously, his hand found Harry's. Harry was surprised by this because Draco generally speaking was averse to PDA. Draco gave him a small smile and Harry was grateful for it.
Ron and Hermione also sat down eventually. And Parkinson cast a privacy charm. The tension between them was a tangible thing. No one spoke for a long time, other than when they were placing their orders. He looked at Draco nervously. By the looks of it, he had expected hostility and silence. At least his calm demeanor gave Harry that impression.
Meanwhile, Harry like a stupid Gryffindor had not thought of what he could do to break the tension. Thankfully for him, Draco brought up the recent History class, and even Hermione could agree that the class was extremely boring. Especially considering that their teacher was a ghost.
It was all the push they needed before they started talking about other inconsequential stuff.
It turns out that Nott hates Divination with a greater passion than Hermione. And Ron was left to defend the Chudley Cannons on his own while Blaise and Pansy indulged everyone in Falmouth Falcon's trivia. By the end of it, Draco and Harry stayed back to clear the bill while the five of them went their separate ways.
"Well, I didn't expect to discuss class and sports but it wasn't that bad."
" Baby steps, Harry. Did you really expect us to sit here and discuss politics or something?"
" No, you are right I need to give them time," Harry said as he leaned in for a kiss.
Draco placed his index finger on Harry's lips. "Later."
Harry wanted to pout. He had a tiring day and wanted to snog his boyfriend. But he noted that while Parkinson's charm was strong, it had started to wear thin.
"I heard back from my mother and I had a chat with Severus."
"Yeah, I also got a reply from Sirius. He said that he would consider meeting the two of us before forming any judgements and I am fairly certain that Remus had something if not everything to with that sensible approach."
Draco chuckled at that. The sound warmed Harry throughout.
"Mother had a similar response. You are invited to the Manor the second week after school ends. Expect to receive a formal invitation with a signature and a seal within the week. And for Merlin's sake get yourself some formal robes. If mother sets her owl after your bird's nest of hair for showing up in torn muggle wear, then I won't be saving your lovely ass."
" Wow, will she actually do that?" Harry laughed and asked not believing Draco for a single moment.
" If she won't then Severus will."
"Didn't know he was invited," Harry said with a cutting tone.
" It comes with being her best friend and her child's godfather. Besides the chances are 1 in a million that he will have something better to do that day than point out all of your faults to her."
" God, he is going to be more horrible than usual, isn't he?"
" Don't think that is physically possible but you are talking about Severus Snape so I would work with that assumption."
" Hmm, I am tired "
" Well, let's pay and leave then."
There was still an hour before curfew when they got back to the castle and as expected the corridors were empty save some couples making out in the dark corners. They parted ways as they neared the great hall. And when Harry finally slid into his bed that night, it was with a content smile on his face and the scent of Draco lingering in his mind.