Unmasked

“Harry?”

Green eyes fluttered open at the sound of Draco’s soft voice. He blinked at his blurry figure, sitting up in bed and rubbing his eyes. Then his glasses were being pressed into his hand and he lifted them to his face. He yawned. “G’morning.”

The corners of Draco’s lips twitched up. “We’re leaving in half an hour. Hermione said to wake you so you still had time to eat.”

“Huh?” He sat up and looked around the empty room, then back to Draco. It was then that he noticed his sopping hair and the towel wrapped around his waist. “Oh. Yeah. Thanks.”

Draco nodded, then went to his suitcase, lifting it up onto the bed beside Harry. He unzipped it, then bit his lip as he stared at the contents. He pulled out his green crewneck. “This with the jeans I wore yesterday… is that acceptable?”

Harry chuckled as he pulled a t-shirt from his own suitcase. “That’s perfectly fine. We’re gunna get you some more clothes today.”

“Okay.”

A few minutes later both Harry and Draco appeared in the kitchen to the sight of Hermione, Ron, Pansy, and Alana eating large bowls of Fruit Loops. Two bowls, the milk pitcher and the box of cereal sat on the kitchen island.

Harry poured himself a bowl, and a smaller one for Draco, then picked up the milk pitcher. “Uh… why is this milk in a bag?”

Alana looked up with an amused smile. “Why is your milk not in a bag?”

Harry raised a brow. “This is so weird.”

“You’re weird.”

He chuckled as he poured milk into their bowls then handed one to Draco, along with a spoon. They pulled out two chairs at the table and sat, listening in to Hermione and Alana’s conversation.

“This mall sounds pretty big, Al.”

“Oh it is! Biggest outside Toronto to the East for quite a ways. You’ll have a good time.”

“Any stores you recommend?”

“Well I’m not sure what you guys have back in the UK, but some of my favourites here are Ardene, Urban Planet, American Eagle and Aerie, Famous Footwear, Cinnabon, David’s Tea, Indigo… there’s too many. You’ll be able to find what you need with no problem. After the mall I’ll take you guys to Staples for your school supplies.”

Hermione grinned at her. “This is gunna be fun.”

Soon after they all piled into Alana’s car and took off down the road, but before they got too far, she turned into a plaza. Alana was smiling like mad, glancing to Hermione beside her.

“Um… where are we going, Al?”

“Tims.”

“Who’s Tim?” Pansy asked from the backseat.

Alana chuckled. “A famous hockey player, actually. But I’m talking about Tim Hortons, the restaurant. I’m buying you guys Ice Capps.”

“Iced Cappacinos?” Hermione questioned.

“Yep. Don’t you remember from the last time you were here, ‘Mione?”

“Honestly, I don’t. Did I like it?”

“You did.” She pulled up to the speaker and rolled down her window.

“Welcome to Tim Horton’s, what can I get for you today?”

“Six medium ice capps please. No tray.”

“That will be $20.25.”

“Thank you!” She pulled around the side of the building, cursing at the people in front of he for ordering a full family’s worth of sandwiches in the drive through. Finally, she made it to the window.

“$20.25.”

“Debit?” She tapped her card on the machine, much to the astonishment of Ron, Pansy, and Draco, and slipped her card back into her phone case. A moment later she began passing the drinks back to all of them. “Thanks! Have a good one!”

She rolled her window back up and pulled away. Not even a minute later they were merging onto the highway, semi-trucks and assholes in tiny cars speeding past her and not changing lanes to let her in. She grumbled under her breath and Hermione laughed, taking the paper off of Alana’s straw, sticking it into the cup and handing it to her. Alana smiled at this and cranked the music.

They arrived at the mall within 20 minutes and Alana pulled up to the curb, stopping beside the doors. Harry saw Pansy pull a face in the rear-view mirror before she spoke. “You’re not coming with us?”

“Nah, not this time. I’m meeting a friend for lunch later and I have a few errands of my own to run. ‘Mione, call me around half an hour before you want me to pick you up.”

“Got it,” she said, climbing out of the car with the rest of them. “See you later, Al.” Alana waved as she pulled away.

Hermione turned to a garbage can and tossed her empty cup into it. She clapped her hands together, grinning widely at the group. “So, are we ready?”

Pansy was bouncing on her toes, staring around at the hundreds of cars in the lot, the bunches of people heading past them through the doors, and the brightly lit signs on the inside. When Hermione looked at Ron, she had to bite back a laugh. His quizzical expression reminded her too much of Arthur Weasley. Harry was watching Draco, who held an apprehensive expression.

Harry grabbed his arm, drawing the blond’s attention. He spoke low enough that no one else could hear him, leaning to speak into his ear. “You’ll be fine, no one will know you’re not a muggle. They’ll have no idea, I promise.”

Silver eyes met green and Draco let out a long breath. “Okay.” Then he turned to Hermione. “Lead the way.”

She spun on her heel and the group followed her through the doors and into the mall. They emerged in the food court, the scent of pizza mingling with burgers and Chinese Food. When they got to the other side she looked both ways and turned back to them. “Left or right, guys?”

“Left.”

“Alright, Harry. Left it is.”

They walked for a while, scanning both sides of the hall for a store name that Alana had mentioned. Icing, Naturalizer, Hot Topic, Spencer’s, Journey’s, Boathouse… Ardene. “Sorry, boys, this one’s for me and Pansy.”

“They have to come with us, though!” Pansy called, running her hands over the rack of clothing in front of the store.

“What?” Ron groaned. “Why?”

“Because! We’ll need your opinions!”

Draco rolled his eyes and Harry laughed, following the girls into the store, much to Ron’s dismay. At first, Draco didn’t leave Harry’s side, but soon enough he was called by Pansy and he joined her, helping her pick a colour and then reaching the article and bringing it down to her. Within minutes Pansy had an armful of clothes picked out and spun in a circle, searching for Hermione.

“Do you need a changing room, hun?”

Pansy’s eyes widened as she whipped round to face the young sales associate. “Huh?”

The girl smiled. “Do you need a changing room to try those on?”

“Oh! Yeah… I, um… I just didn’t know where my friend went—”

“I’m right here, Pansy,” said Hermione, emerging from behind a shelf with a few garments in her hand. “A change room would be great, thank you.”

The group followed the young girl to the back of the store where she unlocked two changerooms, and promptly left.

“Alright, you three,” Pansy said, standing in the doorway of her change room. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll need your opinions.”

“Okay, Pans, we’ll be right here,” Draco replied, laughter in his voice.

“Good.” She turned and closed the door. The boys waited, sitting squeezed on the bench together, twiddling their thumbs in silence.

A moment later Pansy opened the door. “Well?”

The boys glanced her up and down, taking in her leggings and a cropped camo t-shirt. Harry nodded. “I like it, especially the shirt. It suits you.”

“Thanks!”

“’Mione, are you gunna show us something?”

“Patience, Ronald!” The door swung open, revealing Hermione in a grey Friends crewneck sweater and a blue jean skirt.

“That’s actually so cute!” Pansy beamed at her. “What do you think of mine?”

“I like it. That shirt suits you.”

Pansy lowered her voice. “Muggle enough?”

Hermione laughed abruptly. “Anything you find here will be enough. Don’t worry about that.”

Grinning, the two girls headed back into the change rooms. Ron turned to Harry. “They aren’t going to make us do this, are they?”

Harry snorted. “Nah.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Draco huffed, slumping. “Pansy definitely will.”

“Bloody hell.”

Pansy and Hermione both emerged a few more times over a half hour and soon they were on to the next store. Pansy had bought more than Hermione, her large bag holding the first outfit, a black jean skirt, ripped blue jeans, black and white t-shirts, a green zip-front shirt, and faux combat boots. Hermione had her first outfit, a pair of blue jeans, a black overall dress, and a pair of slip-on sneakers.

They didn’t have to walk far to the next store that Alana recommended. Urban Planet and Urban Man were linked together, and the group split to shop. Draco, Ron, and Harry entered the smaller section of the store that was Urban Man and decided to go around together. Ron asked a bunch of questions about the different logos on the shirts, especially NASA and the Kool-Aid Man, who he quickly became fascinated with. Draco opted for mainly plain clothing, dark coloured polos, long sleeved t-shirts and his favourite, a light blue Henley. Harry, on the other hand, didn’t pick up much. A single Nirvana long sleeve shirt, a white polaroid long sleeve, and a couple pairs of straight-fit pants. Ron picked up a few as well, and Draco decided on slim-fit.

The three boys headed to the changerooms at the same time as Hermione and Pansy, the latter of which again had a large armful of garments. “What?” Pansy looked between them at their judging glances. “I don’t have much else. Can’t keep stealing Hermione’s clothes now can I?”

Harry snickered. “I mean you could… you look better in them than she does.”

“Hey!”

He laughed again, sticking his tongue out at her. “C’mon. Let’s go try this stuff on.”

Another half-hour and a fashion show later they were finished and heading to the checkout. Ron had two pairs of pants, an orange NASA shirt, a tie-dye t-shirt, and a long sleeve with the Kool-Aid man on it. Draco had three pairs of pants, a dark grey polo, two long sleeved tees, a black pullover, a contrast hooded shirt, and the light blue Henley. Harry emerged with the same four items he’d tried on. They waited outside the shop for Hermione and Pansy.

Once they left, the group strolled a short ways down the hall back to the food court, where Hermione insisted they try A&W. After waiting an annoying amount of time they settled with their burgers and fries at a nearby table.

“So, ‘Mione,” mumbled Ron through his burger. “What did you get?”

She held up a finger and swallowed her mouthful before hauling her bag up onto her lap. “I got…” She pulled each item out of the bag in turn, showing them off to her friends. First a pair of Mom jeans, then a mustard yellow cowl neck sweater, a grey cardigan and a few coloured tank-tops, and a pair of black leggings.

“That cardigan is cute, Hermione,” said Draco, pointing a fry at her. “Pans, your turn.”

“Ou, okay!” She heaved the bag onto her lap and pulled items out one by one. A button front cargo dress, a black suspender skirt, ripped black jeans, a burgundy caged shoulder top, a tie-dye mock-neck bodysuit, an AC/DC t-shirt (as per Harry and Hermione’s request), a cropped net shirt, another pair of leggings, and a black hoodie that said ‘Whatever,’ across the front.

“We’re twins.”

“Huh?” Pansy raised a brow at Ron, studying him quizzically.

He pulled out his own tie-dye t-shirt and held it up for her. “See? Twins!”

“Never where that at the same time as me, Gryffindork.”

Harry, Hermione, and Draco snorted, while Ron simply gave her a look. “Fine. I guess you don’t want to look cool with me.”

“Instead of you, Weasley.”

“I’m not even sure he knows what cool means,” Draco added, staring at him over his cup.

“What is it? Gang up on Ron day?”

Harry flicked his ear. “You bet.”

“Harry!”

*

After lunch the group made their last stop for clothes at American Eagle. They each got a couple of things, but not a whole lot. Hermione got a pastel flannel, a pair of blue jeans, and a ribbed bralette. Pansy got a dark coloured flannel, a few camisoles, a black wrap dress, and a green halter bralette. Harry bought two pairs of jeans, glad for some that fit right, as well as a plaid shirt, a dark coloured raglan tee, a hoodie, and a pair of sweatpants. Ron found a pair of sweatpants, a pair of blue jeans, brightly coloured flannel, and a white polo with small blue dots on it. Draco did well as well, emerging from the store with a pair of grey sweatpants, a pair of khakis, black and blue jeans, and a crewneck sweater.

They genuinely enjoyed their time shopping together. Poking fun at each other, hyping each other up, taking pictures of the two available phones, and watching Draco slowly but surely getting more comfortable. By the end of their visit to that store alone he was already laughing more and didn’t seem as timid.

Their next stop was famous footwear, and it was fairly brief. Draco and Pansy both found a pair of vans, and Draco was able to find a simple pair of winter boots. Harry found a new pair of Converse and Ron opted for a pair of black trainers. Hermione simply sat and watched.

Afterwards, they passed by another store Alana had recommended. Cinnabon. The smell wafted down the hallway and practically dragged them towards it. They each bought one regular cinnamon bun and sat at one of the tables that barely fit inside the small store to eat them. Ron and Pansy both seemed to be in heaven. Harry was delighted to see that Draco actually ate the entire thing.

David’s Tea was the next brief stop on their list. The five of them found a deal and bough a large box of sachets, along with five to-go mugs. Hermione was caught twice daydreaming about curling up with her tea and a book later that night, to which Ron asked her how many books she had brought and she told him to shut up.

On their way further along the hall, Hermione spotted a kiosk. “Harry…” she pointed up ahead of them at the kiosk, which read KOODO. “Should we?”

For a moment he stood still in the hall of bustling teens and adults talking into their Bluetooth. Then he nodded. “Yeah, we should. Something basic, at least.”

She walked closer to him, turning their backs on the three purebloods. “We can split Ron’s… I know he barely has any. Do you think Draco has enough?”

“I dunno… we’ll find out. But I think he should have one in case something happens, you know?”

Hermione nodded, staring at the salt-stained tiles. “Okay. We’ll do the talking and teach them how to use them later.”

Harry turned to the three, who were squinting at them skeptically. “Come on, you three. Don’t talk or ask questions.”

Draco glared at him. “Why? Where are you taking us?”

“Calm down. I’m sorry, I could’ve phrased that better. Hermione and I are going to get you guys phones. Basic plans. And we will teach you how to use them later. You won’t understand what they’re asking you so just stay quiet and let us do the talking, okay?”

Draco nodded, along with Ron and Pansy. Twenty minutes later, Draco, Ron, and Pansy had added a Koodo bag to the cluster in their arms.

Hermione had insisted they go to Sephora, much to Harry’s resistance. But when he saw the look on Pansy’s face when Hermione told her what it was, he couldn’t say no. So they went, the whole group of them. Or at least, they headed that way.

Harry got distracted by a bright yellow and blue sign halfway there. “Hermione!”

She turned from her conversation with Ron to look back at him. “Yeah? What is it?”

“I’m gunna take a detour. I want to take Draco in there.” He pointed to the store.

Hermione fought the smirk off her face and replaced it with a smile. “Yeah, okay, Harry. Text me when you’re done.”

“Okay.” He looped his arm through Draco’s and directed him off to their right.

“Where are you taking me, Harry? What is this place and why is it filled with a hundred young children?”

Harry chuckled as they walked through the doors. “This is Build-A-Bear workshop.”

Draco blanked. “Build a… what?”

“Come here.” He pulled Draco by the hand over to the left, where dozens of unstuffed animals lay in bins. Draco stared between them and their stuffed companion overtop. “Pick one.”

“What?”

“Pick one to stuff.”

“Oh, uh…” A blush rose in his cheeks. “Okay.” He scanned the row of animals. Some were colourful ears, or dogs, or rabbits. Others characters that he didn’t recognize. And then he came upon a simple brown teddy bear and picked it up, laying it over his forearm. “This one.”

Harry grinned. “Alright. Now we gotta stuff it.”

“How do we do that?”

Harry pointed to the stuffing machine where an employee sat on a stool. “This way.”

Harry brought him up to the young guy sitting on the stool. The dark-haired teen stared up at him and motioned for the bear, which Draco handed to him. He opened the back of the bear, stuck him on the end of the tube, and pumped the pedal to start fluffing him. He looked back up. “Have you ever been to Build-A-Bear before?”

Draco shook his head. “No. But he has.”

The boy nodded at Harry, then turned back. “And what’s your name?”

“Draco.”

“Well, Draco. We’re gunna pick a heart to put in your bear. I like your accent, by the way.”

“Oh… uh… thanks.”

The guy nodded. “Pick a heart from the bin there.” Draco looked over and picked a red satin heart from the bin and handed it to the employee. He took Draco through the ridiculous heart ceremony, all while Harry giggled to himself, secretly loving every minute of it. By the end Draco was visibly flushed, but still seemed happy. The employee stitched up his bear and handed it to him. “Is he squishy enough for you?”

Draco squeezed him in his arms. “Perfect.”

“Alright. Have a good day, Draco.”

“Er, you too.”

He turned to Harry. “Where next?”

“Over here,” he said, guiding him over to what looked like a plastic bathing bench. “Now we gotta fluff him. Step on the pedal and fluff him with the brush under the air.”

“Okay.” A minute or so later he let his foot off the pedal. “Now?”

Harry’s smile widened. “Now we gotta dress him. Come with me.” Harry’s smile widened. “Pick any shirt, pants, and shoes, then bring him over here.”

Draco nodded, scanning the shelves. A few moments later he went back to Harry and held up a green t-shirt, black jeans, and black high tops, which were very similar to Harry’s. Draco brushed some hair out of his face as Harry looked them over. “Can I put the clothes on him now? I think this is some sort of public indecency.”

Harry snorted, handing the clothes back to Draco and allowing him access to the bench where his bear was sitting. He put the clothes on him, then followed Harry to a bay of computers. Harry filled out the info on the ‘Birth Certificate.’ “What do you want his name to be?”

Draco thought for a moment, biting his lip. “Dragon.”

“Dragon it is.” He typed it in and sent the certificate to the register to be printed. “Alright, let’s go pay.”

“How much is it?” Draco asked, fishing his wallet from his pocket.

“Uh uh,” said Harry, pushing Draco’s hand back into his pocket. “I’m paying.”

“What?”

Harry let out a breath as they got into line to pay. “This is my present to you.”

“Why?”

“I want you to, even when we get back home, to use this to remember how strong you are. If you’re having a bad day, give it squeeze. You’ve gotten this far, and you are gunna make it through this. It’s for comfort, but also a reminder of your strength.”

“That’s…” The blush in Draco’s face was back again, and he stared at the ground for a moment. When he looked back up, he was fighting a smile, and the redness was mostly gone. “So corny, Potter. Really.”

Harry couldn’t help but smile.