Lifeguards (a Drarry Story)

Chapter Eighteen- George Weasley and the Curse of Bad Luck

Harry is laughing at something Seamus said and Draco can't help but let the sappy grin cover his face. A nudge to his side makes him whip his head towards the older Weasley who is drinking a firewhiskey from his glass.

"So, Malfoy, how did you two get together?" George asks looking down at the younger man. "You two are making the papers go barmy."

"The idiot ran into me while I was lifguarding. Like full on ran into me, almost toppled me over," Draco smiles at the brunet who is not listening to them, instead watching Seamus and Dean laugh at Ron. 

"How romantic," George says smirking while looking down at the blond. Draco just nods his head and takes a sip of his butterbeer, George has been the only other people other than Ginny and Hermione to talk to him tonight. He doesn't mind, it's Harry's birthday after all. He just thought that Neville would get over his fear quicker, he's obviously not going to hex the Gryffindor. Dean and Seamus seem to tolerate him, Draco doesn't really care if he's being honest. The only person who matters is Harry, that's for sure.

"Yeah, he asked me out for ice cream. I thought that was pretty lame," Draco laughs remembering their first date. Draco looks back towards the brunet, they lock eyes and Harry sends him a bright smile before Hannah is talking to him again.

"Merlin, you guys are so sappy," George says a grin gracing his face, he looks over at Harry and the way he is leaning over the table to talk to Ron about something.

"Wanna join me outside?" George lifts out a pack of cigarettes and Draco raises an eyebrow before nodding and standing up. Harry looks back towards him, feeling Draco's chair move.

"George and I are going to step outside for a minute," Draco says resting his hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry nods and turns back towards the group who all shake their head at the domestic display the two are showing.

The blond and ginger step outside into the dark alley, a little ways away from the door so their smoke won't enter the building and offend anyone eating. George lights his cigarette before watching Draco pull out his own pack from his pocket. It's the habit he's picked up again, but Draco blames it on his overactive mind making him need to go back onto old coping mechanisms.

"I just wanted to thank you," George says after taking a long drag from his cigarette, he looks over at the blond who is flicking away ashes.

"For what?" Draco tilts his head slightly, confused on what George has to thank him for.

"Harry is as much of a brother to me as any of my actual brothers. I haven't seen him this happy in, well, forever I suppose," George looks down at the slightly smaller blond with a slight smile. "I guess I'm going to be stuck with you then?"

Draco lets out a small chuckle and nods his head, "Well, I hope so."

George nods his head, leaning against the wall of the restaurant. "So you said you're a lifeguard? Like a muggle lifeguard?"

"Yeah, I work at the pool downtown. Have for a couple years, it's decent," Draco says toeing the ground with his shoe, flicking more ashes from his cigarette.

"Why a muggle pool?" George asks looking towards the traffic zooming by on the streets.

"Didn't think that anyone would suspect I'd work there. It was away from everything," At the strange look that George gives him, Draco elaborates. "I wanted to get away from the Wizarding World for a bit. Too many bad memories and I don't know, it just didn't feel right being a part of something I helped try to destroy." 

George snorts lightly, a small smile on his face as he snubs out his cigarette. Draco follows suit when his cigarette burns towards his fingers.

"You made a shite Death Eater, Malfoy," George says smiling widely at the blond. Draco gives him a small half smile.