Two Houses (HarryxDraco)

Chapter 33

Draco spent the majority of the next week confined to his bedroom. He would join his mother for meals in the kitchen and went on the occasional walk around the gardens with her, but otherwise, he kept himself busy with homework and memorising his lines for the play. While he doubted his parents would take much interest in his schoolwork, he preferred to err on the side of caution and had magically concealed the script's contents whenever he wasn't using it.

Speaking to Harry late each evening was a much-needed lifeline. He spent most of every day looking forward to the time when he and Harry could talk to each other through the two-way mirrors. He missed Harry's voice, and even if he didn't say much himself, he enjoyed listening to Harry chat away about his day at The Burrow with the Weasleys. Their conversations also provided Draco with an impromptu tour of the Weasleys' dwelling. Every night, Harry would struggle to find a quiet spot for them to talk. Sometimes it would be in the attic he and Ron were currently sharing. On other occasions, Harry would be in the scullery or one of the six bedrooms in the cramped little house. Tonight, he was calling Draco a little earlier than usual and was sitting in the bathroom cradling a bottle of butterbeer in one hand as he talked.

"I'll be lucky if I can even get five minutes to myself this evening, The Burrow is absolutely packed," he explained. "They're hosting a dinner party tonight and Hagrid and a few others are visiting so it's even more cramped than usual."

"You don't sound too put out by it," Draco noted and Harry's smile broadened.

"Nah, not really. Yes, it's noisy and there's hardly any space to move or breathe, and there's zero privacy, but I actually really enjoy it. Christmas was never a time of year that I looked forward to growing up—not until I got to Hogwarts and met Ron and his family. They're the first ones that made it an enjoyable experience."

Draco sighed and flopped back onto his bed. "As hellish as it sounds, I'd much prefer the pandemonium of a Weasley family gathering than attending this wretched ball."

Harry's expression turned sympathetic. "There's no way that you can talk your mum into letting you give it a pass?"

"Believe me, I tried. But she wouldn't budge," he said miserably.

"That sucks." A mischievous grin spread across Harry's face then. "Although I must say, I like what you've done with your hair."

Draco rolled his eyes. "I haven't worn my hair like this in years, but Mother insisted it looked smarter than my usual style."

"It's nice," Harry offered. "Although, I prefer it messy. Especially in the mornings right after we've—"

Harry's sentence was cut short by a loud knock at the bathroom door. His face fell and he sighed, "Someone's needing the loo. I better go."

"I should probably be going anyway," said Draco reluctantly. "Guests will already have begun to arrive, I can't put it off any longer. Speak to you again tomorrow?"

"Yeah, definitely." Harry hesitated a moment before asking, "I could call you in the morning if you'd like? Wish you a merry Christmas?"

Draco smiled. "Yes, I'd appreciate that."

"Okay. I won't say have a good night because I know you won't, but I hope for your sake it's not too awful."

"Thank you," Saying 'I love you' was on the tip of his tongue, but instead he just said, "Goodnight."

Harry waved goodbye to Draco before he shimmered and vanished, leaving Draco's miserable face staring back at him. He sighed and hugged the mirror to his chest. He'd attended countless social events like this in his life—they were part and parcel of being a part of the pure-blood aristocracy—but he had never particularly enjoyed them, even when his reputation was stellar. He had hoped that by appealing to his mother privately, she'd give him a free pass tonight. But, rather unusually, his powers of persuasion had failed him, and she was quite insistent that he be in attendance.