This Feels Like Falling in Love || Drarry

6: New Years Party

Hello and Happy New Years!! I hope everyone is well :) I surprised myself and wrote another long chapter (around 3300 words:D) please vote and comment if you enjoy the story!!
I would like to say in advance  I am apart of the LGBTQ+ community, but if I ever explain anything wrong please tell me and I will correct it!:)

The rest of December sped by.
The boys were walking on eggshells around each other, not avoiding, per se,  but watching their every move. They never got too close, always staying at least a foot apart.
Harry longed to be closer to the other boy. Wanted to hold him in his arms again. Wanted to feel the fluff of his hair against his cheek, to bury himself in his scent. He refrained, only letting himself think about Draco at night. His thoughts repeat the same argument from Christmas.
There's something different about him, something special.
You want him, you know you do.
You can't ignore it forever.
Harry fell asleep fighting his thoughts every night.

Draco had a similar issue.
He stayed distant from Harry in the same way, watching his movements. Always a foot away.
His thoughts, however, were different.
He doesn't want you.
Look at how he's staying away from you.
He's disgusted by you.
These thoughts raced through his brain every second of every day. He hated it, fought them as much as he could. But he believed them. He knew Harry didn't want him. He knew Harry would never like him in the same way he liked Harry. He fell victim to his thoughts, becoming more and more distant from his new friend.
The thoughts of rejection went away occasionally, only to be replaced by the words of his father.
I do not approve...
That mark on your arms shows the kind of man you were meant to be.
You are a disgrace.
I do not want you back in my home.
He knew the truth, he was a disappointment. No one wanted him. Not his own family, not Harry. No one.
Draco was alone.
___________________
Hermione was the only smart one among them. She saw the longing in Harry's eyes whenever he was looking at Draco. She saw how his stares lingered longer than was normal. She recognized the looks. It was the same when she was falling for Ron.
She started watching Draco as well. She saw how he looked at Harry with sad eyes. She noticed how he held back whenever Harry was close to him. She noticed how he barely ate anymore, how he left early from classes and stayed in his room.
She noticed the dark circles surrounding his bloodshot eyes.
She tried to bring it up to Harry but every time she tried, he pushed her away saying something along the lines of, "we're just friends" or "I'm not gay 'Mione, leave it alone,".
But Hermione pushed.
"Harry, just think about it. I can tell that you like him, and not just as a friend."
"Hermione, I'm-"
"You're not gay. Right." She said, rolling her eyes.
Harry sighed, putting his head in his hands.
"You know, gay or straight aren't your only options."
Harry lifted his head, eyes wide with confusion. "What do you mean?"
Hermione wasn't shocked that he didn't know, being raised the way he was and not having a normal education. She almost laughed.
"Harry, there are more than two sexualities. There's like... 50 or more of them." She let out a small laugh.
Harry was speechless. "Like what?"
"Well, there's bisexual, which means you are attracted to multiple genders. Pansexual, which means your attraction isn't limited by gender identity."
Harry's eyes widened while Hermione continued to explain the wide range of different sexualities.
"But of course Harry, you don't need to label yourself. There's the term 'queer' which is a bit of an umbrella term for the community, but you don't need to label yourself. You're Harry Potter. We'll love you no matter what."
Harry went to bed that night with his thoughts racing.
Bisexual.
Maybe...
Hermione's words came back to him. "You don't need to label yourself."
The thought of that frightened him though. His whole life he was stuck under labels, it's what he knew. He didn't want to stray from that.
But thinking about sexualities, about labeling himself, it scared him. He wished someone could just tell him what he was. Who he was.
Bisexual sounds... accurate. Perhaps I am.
"Bisexual..." he muttered to himself tiredly.
He sighed and rolled to face the wall. This could wait. He can just chill for the rest of the holiday and get back to his normal routine once classes start again. Everything would be fine. As long as he stays calm and doesn't do anything stupid.
___________________
Ron had the opposite idea.
"Hey, what if we have a New Year's Eve party?" He asked one day while the three were hanging out in the common room.
'What are you on about?" Hermione asked.
"A party, 'Mione! Like drinking and music! And we can watch the countdown for New Years!"
"Drinking! Are you crazy! We're at school, Ron!"
"All the 8th years are technically legal age to drink," Harry stated.
Hermione scoffed and turned to Harry. "You want to have a party too?"
"Urm... I don't see why not." Harry shrugged, completely forgetting about his situation, wanting to help his best friend have some fun.
"Sweet!" Ron exclaimed. "I'll plan it all, don't worry." He said to Hermione.
Harry laughed a little, knowing that Hermione would inevitably take over the planning.
They went off to shop, waving a quick goodbye to Harry. Once they were gone, Harry's mind was no longer occupied and his thoughts began again.
Shit...
Harry groaned and flopped down on the couch, rubbing his hands down his face.
"Harry? Are you okay?" He heard a soft voice ask from across the room.
He moved his hands away from his eyes and searched for the person who had spoken. It was Draco.
Of course, it was Draco.
He moved back into a sitting position as he answered the other boy's question.
"Yeah, I'm okay."
Draco didn't say anything but sat in the lounge chair next to the couch. Usually, he would sit on the couch next to Harry, but both of them were holding back.
No one spoke. They didn't want to ruin the comfortable silence between them.
Eventually, Harry spoke up. "Ron's planning a New Years' party for the 8th years that stayed for Holidays."
Draco lifted his gaze to meet Harry's eyes. "How many people stayed?"
"Around 20 or 30 I think."
"Hmm..."
"Would you," Harry swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbed. "Would you go?"
Harry was filled with nerves, anxiously awaiting Draco's reply.
"Sure, I guess," Draco responded, looking down at his hands. He seemed... scared. Like he was waiting for something bad to happen.
Harry noticed his change in mood but didn't bring it up.
Draco got up after a while, making his way back to his own room.
Harry laid back down, one hand raking through his hair.
He was so screwed.
___________________
The next day, December 30th, word of the party had spread. The 8th years were buzzing, excited for a change of pace (and the opportunity to drink). Harry played along whenever he was around Ron, knowing his friend was super excited about the party. But really he was nervous. There were going to be a lot of people, so many bodies all crowded in one small room. They were using the Room of Requirements. Ron had already gone and made sure he could get a room the right size and style for the party.
Draco was nervous as well. He didn't know what to expect at the party. He had already decided that he wouldn't drink. At least not too much. He knew if he did something bad would happen. He would get too close to Harry and mess up what little normalcy they had left.
Neither of them were prepared for what was to come.
___________________
It was New Year's Eve, the party was in two hours.
Harry was pacing in his room, trying to find a nice outfit to wear. He wanted to wear something different, something with more style than his usual jeans and sweatshirt, but his wardrobe was limited.
He settled on a white collared shirt, leaving the top two buttons open, and a pair of ripped gray jeans. He wore a black belt as well. He looked through his things and found a chain necklace that he had never worn. Putting it on, he looked in the mirror.
His dark hair was a mess on his head, but that was nothing new. His eyes were ringed with dark circles from his recent lack of sleep. It didn't look bad, though.
Happy with his appearance, Harry left and found Ron and Hermione.
Ron was wearing black slacks and a buttoned-up flannel with the shelves rolled to his elbows.
Hermione was dressed in brown pants fitted around her waist with a gold belt. Tucked into her pants she wore a back and white horizontal striped button-up, the top of it slightly unbuttoned revealing her collar bones. She wore a gold necklace and a few gold rings, her hair curly hair decorated with small braids
They were both smiling wide, clearly excited for the party. Harry walked with them to the Room of Requirements to help set up. His two friends walked in front of him, chatting softly and holding hands.
Harry was happy for them. But at the same time, he was sad. He was sad that he didn't have what they have with Draco.
He pushed those thoughts away as he got to the Room of Requirements.
The room was a fairly good size, a long table placed against one wall, chairs littered around the edge of the room. The floor was decorated with a rectangle design that was covering the majority of the area; a large dance floor.
Most of it was set up, only a few things needed to be added. Including the drinks and snacks.
Harry helped Ron bring the drinks in while Hermione found a way to play music magically throughout the whole room.
Suddenly sound engulfed them, they were taken aback by the sudden change of volume and almost dropped the drinks they were holding.
"'Mione! Turn it down!" Harry yelled through the room.
She winced and turned down the music. "Sorry."
When they were finished setting up it was around 5:00 pm. The party was scheduled for 6:00.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stayed in the room talking and waiting for others to arrive.
___________________
An hour later, the other 8th year students made their way to the room of requirements.
Harry was already a drink in, his second in his hand now.
Harry knew almost everyone that was coming, having lived with them the last 8 years of his life. Plus, his famous reputation made him a people person, at least that's what people thought. He greeted everyone at the door, refilling his drink regularly.
After 30 minutes, Draco wasn't there. Most Slytherins weren't.
There were about 8 Gryffindors, 3 Hufflepuffs, 4 Ravenclaws, and 2 or 3 Slytherins. The room was crowded. Most people were on the dance floor, standing closely among their friends. A few sat along the wall, observing the dancers and chatting.
Harry was among the ones on the wall, close to the door. He watched Ron and Hermione on the dance floor, both of their faces stretched into large smiles, laughing at Ron's terrible dance moves.
Every once and awhile, he would glance at the door. Willing it to open and for Draco to walk in. He was on his fourth drink now.
An hour into the party, Hermione dragged Harry away from the door, pulling him onto the dance floor.
He was warm, stuck in the sea of bodies. Hermione grabbed his hands and forced him to dance.
"Harry, it's a party! Forget about it for a while! Have some fun!" She yelled through the crowd, a smile stretched across her tan face.
Harry gave in, The alcohol fueling him. He danced with Hermione and Ron. Eventually, he dragged Neville in. And danced with him for a while. He spotted Dean and Seamus dancing in the crowd and made his way there. He danced with the Patil twins. He danced with anyone and everyone.
He forgot about Draco for a while.
Until the door opened and the blonde walked in, flanked by Pansy and Blaise.
He wore black slacks with a belt that hugged his waist. Chains hung from his belt loops and rested against his hip. On top he had on the sweater Harry had given him, a white collared shirt peeking out of the neckline. The color of the shirt made his eyes shine bright blue.
Harry smiled and unconsciously moved towards him.
He's wearing the sweater I got him... Harry thought, his smile growing wider.
As he got closer he noticed something else; Draco was wearing eyeliner.
He'd seen Hermione put it on before, but it was different on Draco. He looked...
Hot.
Harry shook his head as he reached Draco, the alcohol in his system making him forget that he was supposed to stay apart from the boy.
He hugged him at the door, Pansy and Blaise left to get drinks. When Draco didn't hug him back, Harry pulled away and looked at the shorter boy. Draco's cheeks were flushed pink, his face twisted in confusion.
"Draco! I'm glad you made it!" Harry said, not reading Draco's expression.
"Harry, are you-"
"Do you want a drink?" Harry asked, cutting him off. "It's actually pretty good!"
Yeah, he was a bit drunk.
Draco followed the energetic Harry to the drink table, pouring himself a small cup. Harry's cup almost overflowed with the drink.
Draco promised himself then that he'd stay sober, knowing something bad would happen if he wasn't.
After a few minutes, Harry was pulled away onto the dance floor, he handed Draco his drink quickly before turning and running away. Draco observed the boy from afar, admiring his features.
Harry's shirt was unbuttoned quite a bit, his collar bones peaked out, one sleeve threatened to fall off his shoulder. A chain was wrapped around his neck. For a moment Draco imagined using that to pull Harry into a kiss.
He put his drink down, erasing that thought.
This was going to be a long night.