"It was tentative at first, this conversation between us – neither here nor there.
We were not quite sure yet of where we stood with each other, aside from the fact that it was different than the day before, when we had been overwhelmed with shock, and the day before that, when we had barely spared each other a single thought.
This was the morning after, but a curious one, a morning after something that never happened. Perhaps it was the morning before. A morning before everything would change forever."
– Apples and Oranges, by Francis Gallagher
_____
They are sitting at a table picked by Malfoy and partially nestled between a five-foot-tall golden ficus and some sort of an indoor palm that is pushed between their table and the next. Babylonian, a charming, exotic-gardens-inspired, brunch-oriented bar and bistro was Harry's choice, so it's only right of him to let Malfoy choose their sitting arrangement.
From their place in one of the back corners, they have a clear view of the bar as well as the glass door that mirrors the front and also gives them a peak of what appeared to be an outdoor terrace. The greenery from the terrace spills into the room – floor plants and hanging plants and small clusters of cacti and succulents on tables and shelves. The tables are mismatched wood, and the seating a mixture of stools, chairs, and colourful, padded settees.
They have ordered already – raspberry jam tartlets and a seasonal fruit salad for himself and a spring vegetable sunburst sandwich for Malfoy – and are now occupied with nothing but the waiting and a glass of water each.
Harry glances at Malfoy who is watching him already and gives him a quick awkward smile. It's hard to figure out how he's supposed to act right now. A week ago this would have seemed like the craziest thing Harry has done in recent history, but right now, he feels like he's allowed to give Malfoy a quick awkward smile. (Though he prays to all there is that Malfoy doesn't accuse him of flirting, only partially because any unintentional flirtations might leave the wrong impression.)
Finally, after an undetermined amount of time – since Babylonian has no wall space for clocks – the server brings their food on colourful patterned plates. It looks fresh and delicious, and a few bites confirm this assumption rather quickly.
A couple of moments later, Malfoy slows down the careful dissection of his sandwich – who eats a sandwich with a knife and fork? – to catch Harry's attention again.
"Well?"
Harry swallows down his piece of plum. "Well, what?"
"I am waiting for you to lie to my lovely face about the alleged poor quality of my book."
"It's not lying if it's true."
"That is the definition of the truth, yes," Malfoy nods seriously (giving Harry an inexplicable urge to smack him in the face). "Good job, Potter."
Harry glares at him (it isn't smacking in the face, but it's still hurtful). "Where do you want me to start?"
Malfoy raises an eyebrow. He takes a pointed (and carefully curated) bite of his sandwich. "The beginning."
"Your beginning is annoying," Harry says immediately.
"Excuse me?"
"I said what I said." Harry almost crosses his arms over his chest but then realises that a pointed bite of his tartlet would be a better counter, so he does just that.
"Take it back then."
"I will not take it back. In fact, I'll even elaborate!"
"Excuse me?" Malfoy says again.
YOU ARE READING
Apples and Oranges [Drarry] ✔
FanfictionIf the world was a fair place, Harry Potter would never have come across a curious romance novel that seemed to depict the entirety of his past with his old school rival Draco Malfoy. The world, however, was not a fair place. That's why he found him...