Apples and Oranges [Drarry] ✔

Chapter 5: Day and Night

"I walked home that night, cold and somewhat annoyed, but not even my best efforts could stop me from thinking about the source of my annoyance. My mind kept skipping beats until it was back where it had started – thinking about him.

That's all I did for the next few hours – think about him; think about him and wonder if we were really on the brink of something wonderfully new or if I was once again stuck in one of my charming little fantasies."

– Apples and Oranges by Francis Gallagher

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It's barely been three days.

Harry knows that it's barely been three days, and somewhere out there Ron is laughing about this, but Harry can't stop. Thinking about Malf– Draco that is.

It isn't even anything in particular, but Hermione wasn't lying when she said that all of this happened so fast and now there was a whole solid date behind him. He went on a date. With Draco Malfoy. Even though it wasn't a real date.

But much to his misfortune, nothing about that date felt artificial. It felt genuine and nice and exciting and new. And most of all, it felt like something Harry would gladly do again. He hadn't had this much fun in years.

He had had this expectation that they'd go on the date-not-date, and then time would pass, and they would never talk or see each other again, and the whole experience would be this weird, funny story in Harry's life. He had had this expectation that they'd go on a date-not-date, and he'd calm down.

But when he woke up, the morning after the date-not-date, there was this weird new... excitement in his chest. He was filled with anticipation and he didn't even know why. He had already been counting the days he would have to wait before initiating more contact – so it wouldn't be inappropriate – when he remembered the reason behind all of this planning and meeting and talking (and dating).

Harry hasn't been able to get much work done in the past couple of days.

Impulsively, on day three, after filing a report that took him most of the morning to finish, he grabs a fresh piece of parchment. He dips his quill into the ink, hesitates, and then starts writing, not daring to think about it further.

Draco,

When do you finish work? How does a spontaneous trip to the planetarium sound?

I've never been, but Hermione told me it was brilliant when she went as a kid.

I thought it'd be nice if we went together. I know it was your idea first, what with the book and all, but I assume we are following the dates meetings as they appear in the book, so the planetarium is up next and if you're free, I'm up for crossing it off the list today. Let me know.

Yours, Harry

P. S. I promise to book the entire thing if you want.

He sends the note before he can change his mind and goes back to work.

The reply arrives just as he is getting ready to go home. Harry has already accepted that Draco decided to ignore him by then, so it is a pleasant surprise. He smiles despite himself, glad that he is still in his office lest someone gets an idea he is getting secret love notes or something. He quickly opens Draco's letter.

Harry,

The planetarium sounds nice. I've never been either since we had an observation deck at the manor. I used to spend whole nights out there in the summer. I wonder if muggles can manage to beat that experience. (Do not book the entire thing.)