Secrets

Chapter 4: Perfect Days

Draco's favourite part of the day was hanging out at the unicorn paddock. They lazed behind the stone wall, out of sight, eating their lunch far too early. He thought, somewhat gleefully, that his father would have an absolute fit if he could see Draco at that precise moment because that morning he'd just pulled on the previous day's clothes, and he hadn't washed or showered and he couldn't quite remember if he'd even brushed his hair. And now his uniform was absolutely filthy and there was a tear in the knee of his trousers. He wasn't sure if he'd ever worn clothes so dirty but he smiled happily because he didn't care. The last two days meant everything to him, mostly because it started with Harry reaching out his hand to take Draco's and perhaps the raven-haired boy by his side didn't realise the significance of that moment but it meant everything... and it meant far more than formal, stuffy handshakes. And it had given Draco and Harry the chance to start over, begin afresh, and realise they could be really good friends. It made Draco's heart soar and he couldn't ever remember feeling this happy.

Draco silently used a spell to cut the apples into quarters and together, Harry and he cautiously held out their hands with the apple pieces balanced on their flat palms and watched the shy animals gradually approach them. It was beautiful to feel their warm breath of the unicorns on his hand as they carefully took the pieces and crunched them. The show of trust slowly led to the unicorn mother allowing both boys to pat and stroke her beautiful white neck.

The pure joy of the moment made Draco want to cry.

That was when Hagrid found them and he stood silently watching them, fondness visible on his great face.

'Well done, boys,' he said gruffly when the mother snorted out a puff of air and moved away, taking her foal with her. 'Yer know, unicorns generally get on better with girls so yer mus' 'ave done somethin' righ'. Yer comin' in for a cup o' tea?'

Draco wasn't sure but Harry grinned wildly and held his hand again and led him into Hagrid's strange hut. Draco decided he could brave anything with Harry by his side, especially when he held Draco's hand like that.

The tea was strong and Draco didn't like it but he politely swallowed it down. And he copied Harry and slipped the rock cake into his pocket when Hagrid wasn't watching.

'So then,' Hagrid said with a big smile on his face and crumbs in his beard. 'I 'ear yer both 'ave been getting' into all sorts o' trouble these past two days and givin' them 'Ealers a righ' ol' runaround...'

'Not on purpose,' said Harry happily. 'We're just being friends and doing things together.'

'Yer look a bit muddy,' Hagrid laughed.

'We've been outside a lot.'

'And do yer like that, young Malfoy?'

'Yes, sir,' said Draco, very cautiously.

'Yer don't need to "sir" me. I'm jus' ol' Hagrid. And I, for one, think it's great and you kanne beat being outdoors.' He tapped the side of his nose. 'If the 'Eadmistress or any of them 'Ealers ask, I never saw yer. Now, yer go and enjoy what little time yer 'ave left of being eleven again. Jus' be careful near the 'Ippogriffs, one is sittin' on her eggs and they're due to hatch soon.'

'Can we come and see, please?' asked Draco politely.

'Of course yer can,' boomed Hagrid with a welcoming smile on his face.

Draco began to think that perhaps his father was very wrong about a lot of things, especially after Hagrid took them into the Hippogriff paddock and pointed out the brooding mother.

'I reckon it'll be tonigh'. Yer come down in the morning 'n' see.'

That night, as they lay top and tailing in their pillow fort watching the stars above them, Draco decided that, for the first time in forever, he was actually happy from deep within his soul and no one could ever take the experience and feelings of these two days away from him. There was a comfortable sort of silence between them and he felt Harry's foot gently nudging his arm.