Two Houses (HarryxDraco)

Chapter 31

The morning came too quickly for Draco's liking. He took his time packing his trunk, trying to drag out what little time he and Harry had left before they had to part ways for the Christmas holidays. He also took extra care to stow the two-way mirror Harry had gifted him in the centre of the trunk, wrapping it in several layers of clothing to protect it in transit. Harry, meanwhile, took a less methodical approach and opted to throw everything in his trunk without so much as a second glance. He didn't even bother folding his clothes, reasoning that they needed to get washed anyway. Draco watched Harry sweep the room one last time, making sure that they hadn't left anything behind, before retrieving his mokeskin pouch from the bedside table. He pulled it on over his head, tucking it down the front of his t-shirt before pulling on a jumper and jacket.

"Why do you wear that thing all of the time?" Draco asked curiously.

Harry shrugged. "Force of habit, mostly. You never know when you might need to make a quick getaway."

"Are you planning on running away somewhere?"

Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around Draco's neck. "Not without you, I'm not."

Draco screwed up his face in distaste. "That was disgustingly sentimental."

"It was, wasn't it?" Harry laughed before pulling Draco into a deep, lingering kiss—probably their last one for the foreseeable future. When they broke the kiss, Harry sighed and pressed their foreheads together. "We better get going."

Draco kissed Harry again before finally letting him go. Stepping out of the hotel room, they reverted back to their usual 'just friends' performance for the benefit of everyone else, walking side by side but no longer touching. Hermione, Ron and Ginny were waiting for Harry at the hotel entrance. Their cumbersome trunks took up most of the pavement, much to the bemusement of passing Muggles. When Ginny saw Harry and Draco approach, she greeted them with a slight wave.

"Dad should be here soon to pick us up," she said.

"Wouldn't it be quicker if we just Apparated?" Harry asked.

"Probably. I think Dad only offered to pick us up so that he had an excuse to show off his new car," Ron explained.

"I'm surprised your mum permitted him to have another car after the last time," Hermione mused.

"It's a company car," Ron explained. "I doubt he'll be allowed to tinker with that."

Just then, a goose-like honk caught their attention and they all turned to see a beige, box-shaped car trundle towards them, screeching to a halt in front of the hotel. The window squeaked as it rolled down and Arthur Weasley's beaming face appeared.

"Morning, everyone!" he cried. "What do you think of my new ride?"

Draco couldn't help but stare at the car. It was, by far, the most hideous-looking automobile that he had ever laid his eyes upon. He wouldn't want to be caught dead driving that thing, yet Arthur Weasley seemed to view it as a point of pride. If the horrified expressions on the Weasley children's faces were anything to go by, they seemed to share Draco's sentiments.

"What is that thing?" Ron asked, casting a disparaging eye over the vehicle.

"Muggles call it a Lada," Arthur explained as he exited the car. He caught sight of Draco standing off to the side of the group and frowned slightly. If he were going to comment on his presence, Ginny didn't give him the opportunity to do so.

"What happened to the company car that work gave you?" she asked. "Mum said that you had a Rolls Royce!"

"Oh, I left that at home," said Arthur, hurrying around the car to pop open the bonnet. "Your mother finally forgave me for the incident with the Ford Anglia so she let me buy this!"