𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐔𝐏 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋

Chapter 12

"Why did you leave yesterday?" Draco tried to say with a small, forced, smile on his face as he and Harry walked together to Josh's coffee place. Harry looked at Draco and then back at the street before them, putting his hands in his pockets, as if he was cold.

"I thought you would have liked to talk with your parents in private…" Harry said after a second of silence. Draco tried to smile again:

"How kind of you…"

Harry knew but Draco's tone of voice that something really wasn't right. Should he have stayed in the end at Draco's place the day before? He remembered Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy and Harry really hadn't wanted to see them and listen to them thanking him a little too kindly for helping Draco out. At first Harry didn't even care about what the Malfoy family had to say to each other but looking at Draco now, the day after the family reunion, rang a bell inside him, alarming him. Something wasn't right.

"So…" Harry asked almost casually, "Why did they decide to pay you a visit after so long?".

Draco didn't look at him as he answered: "They said it took them a while for the Minister to let them know where I live now…"

"Oh…" Harry just said. It was obvious. No one should know where Draco (and all the other young ex-Death Eaters) lived, apart from one or two, in case a large group of wizard and witches paid a visit… Harry didn't want to think about the consequences.

"They said…" Draco suddenly continued, "They are trying to cut my punishment a little…"

Harry's head turned to Draco so quickly his neck hurt and for a moment he felt dizzy.

"Really?"

"Yes…" Draco said and smiled, genuinely this time. "But…" Draco's smile disappeared and Harry watched him as the blond boy stopped for a moment, obviously thinking if to tell it or not. "But as soon as I'm out of the muggle world, I'm going to be engaged…"

"What?" Harry stopped walking. He felt as someone had stabbed him in the heart and the world started spinning around. What? E-engaged? "Do you know this girl?" Harry asked then a little panicky. "Do you love her?"

Then, suddenly, Draco cracked down laughing.

"Love her? What kind of question is that?"

"Well, people do get married because they love each other…" Harry said a little taken aback. Draco laughed again.

"I don't love this girl, even if I don't understand why you care so much…" Draco said. "I hardly even remember her. We used to hang out with her family the summer holidays, because our parents knew each other…"

Harry blinked: "So it's an arranged marriage…"

"Yes, it is…" Draco said.

"You don't want to marry her…"

"I don't have any say in that…" Draco said, slowly stopping laughing. "It's settled… as soon as I'm out…"

"Draco…" Harry tried again as every word Draco's said stabbed him over and over again.

"Please…" Draco whispered, suddenly, "I don't want to talk about it…" and his face turned apathetic, but Harry could see sadness in Draco's silver eyes. That hurt even more than words.

They continued walking in silence, both deep in their own thoughts, when Harry suddenly said:

"It's possible that today I might not make it to pick you up after work…"

"Oh…" Draco whispered, his eyes avoiding Harry's ones, and grinned. "That's a good new!"

"I'm glad you see it that way…".