Drarry One Shots

The Transfer Student (Part 2/2)

Revised: 9/2021
Tags/Warnings: Muggle Au, Hogsmead
Summary: Draco realizes Harry isn't into his 'big bad rich boy' façade, and hopes that a different approach would work better. 

~~~

Though Draco had done his best to be suave and alluring the past week, Harry didn't join him for Hogsmead. Draco was incredibly disappointed. Hadn't he been irresistible? How could Harry not want him?

No, that's not it. He want's me, he just... doesn't know it yet.

Draco spent the weekend soul searching. He could feel his desire for Harry in his bones, and besides that Draco was becoming affectionate for him. That itself was so rare that Draco wanted to jump at the chance to have Harry, and see where this weird tender feeling turned into.

So Draco had to make him know. But, now that he understood Harry better, Draco realized Harry wasn't going to ever date him at this rate. Harry didn't like the type of personality Draco had been trying to pull off. It was a foreign idea. Ever since he started school six years ago he had been lead to believe he was doing everything right. Confidence, suave, style, and everything else his father emulated.

But, maybe Harry didn't grow up in the kind of environment Draco did. He certainly didn't act like any of the other students, at least the ones Draco knew.

So. He had to get to know Harry better. He had to act more... genuine? It had been years since he'd acted sincerely and honestly, but Draco thought that's what he needed here. Harry was the most genuine person Draco had ever met, so...he would do his best to be the same.

Blaise is never going to let me live this down if it doesn't work, Draco thought, laying in his bed and messing with his shirt. But that would be okay, Draco decided. Harry was worth the risk.

Draco spent most of Sunday night looking in the bathroom mirror and practicing a natural smile. After awhile, he realized he kind of liked it better than the smirk which he mimicked his father on. His eyes looked much brighter with an actual smile. He hoped Harry would like it.

Draco dressed in his regular uniform Monday morning, but he didn't slick back his hair. Instead he let it hang loose and fluffy around his ears. It was still meticulously combed and styled, but Draco could only experience so much change at once.

Blaise and Theo had been laughing at him all morning, but that was fine. They were in relationships, and Draco had plenty of dirt on them from the things they had done while trying to get attention from their crushes. This was a first for Draco, but he thought he was doing okay in terms of embarrassing himself. Few people would remember that he didn't style his hair for some time in seventh year. If he needed to, he could pretend it never happened.

He hoped that wouldn't be the case, but, well. His first period was agony. He spent the entire time looking at the clock and bouncing his leg, waiting for the bell. Second and third period he spent with Harry, but because of who the professors were he wouldn't have much opportunity to talk.

The bell rang, and Draco shot out of his seat. He got to Lupin's in record time. Harry hadn't arrived yet; most of the class hadn't. Draco sat in his seat and tapped his fingers against the desk.

Harry appeared not long after, looking as delectable has he had when Draco first saw him. He was alluring, with his dark skin and striking green eyes. Draco felt himself wanting to smirk, but instead he forced himself to relax. Harry met his eyes while he walked to his desk, and Draco smiled naturally at him. Harry's footsteps stuttered. Was that a good thing? Did I distract him with my utter animal magnetism? No, that's stupid. I must have surprised him.

"Good morning, Harry," Draco said once Harry sat. Harry was looking at him with suspicion.

"Hello."

"How was your weekend? Were you able to make much progress unpacking the house?"

"Erm, yeah," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Though we found a spiders nest in one of the closets. Haven't heard my dad scream that loud my whole life than when he almost stepped on it."

Draco laughed. This was something else he had practiced; letting himself laugh without anything extra. Harry was looking at him strangely, but Draco ignored it for now. "I would love to see my dad deal with a nest of spiders. My mother would likely have to hold him while she took care of it," Draco said, hoping to get Harry to talk to him more.

Harry's eyes lit up, and he laughed as well. "Exactly! My mum had to take care of it while my dad puttered around the kitchen making tea to calm down." Harry was smiling at Draco in a way that made him breathless. Had Harry not smiled at him like that at all the past week? Draco had been missing out. He'd had changed almost nothing, and he was already getting brilliant results.

The bell rang. Harry turned away from where he'd been angling his body toward Draco. Reluctantly, Draco did the same. But before he was completely settled Harry caught his attention again. "Your hair looks nice like that," Harry said, then turned away. He didn't see Draco light up at the words, which Draco was glad for. He had to have some composure still. Class passed quickly enough, now that Draco could sneak sidelong glances at Harry. Once, they made eye contact. Harry gave him a smile, and looked away. Draco didn't catch him again, but he liked to think Harry was still looking. When the bell rang, Draco stood next to Harry's desk, sweeping up his shoulder bag the moment Harry finished packing it up.

"Hey!"

Draco looked at Harry with an innocent expression. "Hm? What're you standing around for? We have to get to McGonagalls." Draco gestured for Harry to follow him.

Harry did, though he was watching Draco closely while they walked. Draco hoped Harry wasn't seeing anything bad. "So, what are your parents like? You transferred because your dad teaches here now, right? Does your mom do anything?"

"Erm, they're great. They've always been super supportive and taken care of me, even when I was doing stupid stuff. Mom still looking for work in the area, but she works with numbers and stuff. Every time she tries to explain it to me it goes over my head. She's a lot smarter than me."

"Stupid stuff?" Draco inquired.

"Yeah, like starting fights and all that. One of my best friends, Hermione, used to get really bullied when we were young. She's very bookish, and the kids teased her for that, and for her hair, and whatever else they could think of. Eventually I started and won enough fights that they stopped bullying her, but I also almost got expelled."

Draco's jaw had dropped while Harry was speaking, but he fixed himself before the man finished. Harry hadn't seemed like the type to fight to Draco, but now that he was looking for it... fighting for a friend is exactly something Harry would do.

"That's, uhm, different than what I'm used to, I'll admit," Draco said with a laugh. Harry gave him a curious look, encouraging him to continue. "Well, my parents would kill me if I ever started any fights. And, really, I never had any reason to get into one."

Harry nodded in understanding, which Draco was relieved to see. "Well, I suppose that's part of the rich people culture, right? More verbal aggression than physical, that kind of thing."

"Yeah, I guess. I take it you didn't grow up... similar to how I did?" Draco hedged, but Harry didn't mind.

"Nah, not at all. I'm only going here because they offered to pay for my tuition if my dad came to work for them. Which is cool, but it's so different from everything I'm used to."

Draco hummed, not sure how to respond. They walked the rest of the short journey to McGonagalls in pleasant silence. Draco handed Harry's bookbag back at the entrance. Harry sat with Neville on the otherwise of the classroom to Draco. "Thanks," Harry said with a smile, then they parted.

For the first day, Draco had thought he'd done exceptionally well. Now he only had to keep it up. Which shouldn't be too difficult. It wasn't as if he was faking, but it was difficult to be genuine after spending so much time pretending to be something else.

~~~

Their small interactions continued in a positive manner. They chatted when they could in Lupins, and then Draco carried Harry's bag to McGonagalls. Draco felt confident enough on Friday to try asking Harry out again. Draco caught him as he was leaving McGonagalls, where they would have split up for lunch.

"Harry?" Draco called, catching up. Harry stopped and waited for him.

"What's up?"

Draco resisted the urge to swipe his palms across his pants. "If you're free tomorrow, the invitation to Hogsmead is still open."

Harry thought about it for a moment, looking intently at Draco. "That sounds nice, sure. But I can't stay out too late, I do have some homework that'll need to get done," Harry answered, hands stuffed into his pant pockets. He looked very casual, the opposite of how Draco felt right now.

"Okay! Okay, great. Do you want to meet in the courtyard at, say, four tomorrow?" Draco felt like he was going to burst. Harry's smile wasn't helping.

"Yeah, that sounds nice. I'll see you then, Draco." Harry waved and walked away from him, towards the Great Hall where students were eating lunch. Draco felt like punching the air, but some things were too inappropriate for the general public to witness. Instead, Draco composed himself and went to his own lunch, thinking about tomorrow.

Harry was already there when Draco got to the courtyard. He sat on a stone bench underneath a gorgeous arching tree, and smiled once he spotted Draco. "Hey," Draco started, a little shy. He cleared his throat. "Ready, then?"

Harry looked at him confused. "Are we meeting the others there or something?"

Draco's brow furrowed. "What? It's only you and me."

"Oh," Harry frowned.

"Is that okay?" Draco asked, his nerves having gone from bad to awful at Harry's frown.

Harry shook his head, smiling again. "Yeah, just surprised. How're we getting there?" Harry stood from the bench, gesturing for Draco to lead.

"Well, we could walk for about thirty minutes or I could drive us there."

"You have your own car? What am I saying, of course you do," Harry shook his head. "Let's do that, it sounds nice."

Draco smiled, and led Harry to his car. It was in a small student parking lot. Most students at the school weren't of driving age, and less had their own vehicles for boarding school. But Draco was rich enough to, and was looking forward to showing off to Harry.

The entire evening was lovely. He and Harry talked the entire time as they browsed through the shops the village offered. The candy store in particular attracted Harry like a month to a flame. They had to have spent at least half an hour in there, with Harry collecting various things and Draco observing Harry's choices. This would be good information for a Christmas or birthday gift.

Towards the end, they ate at The Three Broomsticks and spent at least an hour there, talking and laughing and enjoying each others company. Draco never wanted it to end, but after the desert Harry checked his watch and Draco saw his face fall. Harry really did have other work to do, and Draco did as well. So Draco flagged the waitress and paid for their meal, brushing away Harry's protest.

When they walked back, their hands brushed each other. The car ride back was more subdued, since they were both tired and didn't want the evening to end. But it did, and soon they were at Hogwarts, walking through the halls. They came to the section where they would have to split to go to their respective dorms.

"Thank you for all of this, Draco. It was really nice," Harry said warmly. Draco smiled at him.

"Of course, Harry. I'm glad you enjoyed our date."

Harry spluttered. "That- that was a date?"

Draco frowned, feeling hurt. "I, yeah. I thought so." He looked at Harry for a moment in silence. "Is that why you thought other people would be coming? Because it wasn't a date to you?"

"I mean, yeah, I guess, but-"

"Yeah, okay. Okay. Well, I did have a nice night, but we need to do things, so-"

"Draco, wait." Harry reached out for him as he started to turn. "I didn't mean it like that. I just... didn't realize. But it was... it was an amazing date. I'm glad I went." Harry spoke quietly. Draco looked back to him.

"Really?"

Harry nodded, smiling at him. "Really. Maybe we could do it again next weekend?"

Draco shrugged, feeling a little silly but trying to regain his composure. "Yeah, that works. I'd like it." Harry was smiling at him in that way he had been all night. The way that made Draco want to burst. "Harry?" Draco started, reaching towards Harry and clasping his hand.

"Yeah?" Harry whispered, not moving away from Draco.

"I'm-" Draco stopped, not sure what he wanted to say. He stroked Harry's cheek, feeling Harry's breath against his face. "Can I kiss you?"

"Yeah."

Draco approached slowly, bringing his other hand to encompass Harry's face. Harry's eyes closed, and Draco closed his own. Their lips brushed, the barest feeling. But Draco didn't want to push anything, so he backed away. "We'll do this again next weekend?"

"Yeah," Harry whispered again. Draco smiled, wondering if he'd caused Harry's repetition.

"I can't wait," Draco whispered, letting his lips ghost over Harry's. He brushed them together once more, before pulling back. He took Harry's hand and squeezed it. "Sleep well."

"Yeah, you too, Draco."

They parted, both feeling like they were floating as they went back to their dorms, and fell asleep thinking about each other.