Muggles and Malfoys

The Restaurant

"You're late Potter" Draco teased, turning to face Harry. 

His hair was windswept from apparating and running half a block to get to the muggle restaurant the pair had decided on. He was slightly out of breath but doing his best to present a poised and collected professor aesthetic. 

"I thought we said 5:30," Harry retorted as he opened the door to a muggle restaurant. "I'm only a little late, after you." 

Harry fixed his hair and straightened out his beige suit jacket before following Draco into the restaurant. The place definitely felt romantic. Deep red curtains lined the windows and at each table was a single rose in a vase and a candle. Draco looked at Harry who was already talking to the hostess and profusely apologising for being late for their reservation. 

Draco watched from the door as Harry politely asked the waitress if "there was any possible way I could get a table, I'm terribly sorry" The hostess looked past Harry to Draco whose checks were flushed red with embarrassment. When he saw the waitress was looking at him, he pretended to fix his hair in antique mirror the restaurant had by the front door. 

"Please," Harry pleaded one last time, "I'll take any table, I just don't want to embarrass myself in front of him."

 "Of course Mr.Potter," The waitresses lips curled at the edges slightly, "Right this way to your table" 

 Harry turned to Draco with a wide grin. Draco just raised his eyebrows, rolled his eyes and walked swiftly past the brunette. Following the waitress to their table. 

"What? The food's good. Besides I figured you would want something "Malfoy worthy". Harry mumbled as they stopped at a window table that overlooked the busy London street. 

Harry noticed Draco's change in demeanour. The blonde seemed deep in thought. Like there was something that was bothering him and he just didn't feel comfortable enough to say it. Harry could feel a knot form in his stomach as he wondered what the other man could possibly be thinking about. He knew his uneasiness meant he probably knew what was going on. The silence became excruciating for both men.

"Harry," Draco began, looking Harry in the eyes for the first time that night. "what are we doing?"

"We're having dinner." Harry smirked trying to avoid the question. He looked down at his menu and pretended to read it. 

He knew what Draco meant. Ever since they had run into each other at the muggle bar down the street the two men had been spending more and more time together. Some days they would meet up to get a coffee and make small talk, updating each other on the mundane parts of their lives. Some nights they would just sit in silence holding each other. Sometimes one of them would cry about their family, or friends, people they lost during the battle, pieces of themselves they lost during the war. Those nights ended without goodbyes or thank yous. They never discussed those nights. 

"I'm serious Harry. I can't keep doing this. It's too weird." Draco looked down at his hands which were cupping his glass. He looked around the restaurant before speaking again. He lowered his volume "Harry I.. ." He couldn't finish his sentence, but he didn't have to. 

Harry's hands reached across the table. He placed his hands over Draco's. The other man looked up and for the first time since their first meeting in Diagon Alley, Harry James Potter saw Draco Lucius Malfoy. 

Draco pulled his hands back as the waiter placed their plates in front of them. He wiped his hands on his thighs under the table looking rather flustered. They ate their meal in silence, occasionally mentioning that the food was good or pointing out scenes happening outside on the street. 

The air was thick but this time neither of the men wanted to break the silence. Eventually their bellies were full and their plates empty. They had no menus to hide behind. 

"I'm not trying to keep it a secret Draco," Harry started looking Draco in the eyes, "I'm serious about this. About us." 

Draco turned his head to avoid Harry's eye contact but his lower lip protruding and his brows in a furrow gave him away. 

"I don't want to hide either," Draco began, "But that doesn't change the fact that it's wrong Potter." 

Draco stood and placed his napkin on the table along with a wad of cash. As he walked away he turned around to say something more, Harry could have sworn he saw his mouth form the words "I'm sorry" but the blonde man quickly turned and left. 

Harry just watched as Malfoy walked down the muggle street and turned the corner. He kept staring out the window watching the spot Malfoy had disappeared behind hoping to see him reappear. Wishing he would come back and apologise, say that he thought about it and he wants to try to figure out whatever it was that they were doing. He wanted him to rush back in and sweep him off his feet, confess his love and plant a kiss on his lips. As Harry was daydreaming the waiter cleared Draco's plate and glass as if he hadn't just been sitting across from Harry. 

The waiter cleared Harry's plate too and placed a small dessert in front of him. Harry, then snapped out of his daydream, looked up at the waiter perplexed, about to say he didn't order any dessert. 

"On the house sir." The waiter said as he turned and left. 

Harry looked up from the slice of chocolate cake to see the waiter whisper something into the hostess' ear. He could see the pity enter her eyes as she placed her hand over her heart as if she was in physical pain. 

Now Harry realised even the Muggle world wasn't safe from the broken path that the Malfoys left behind them with every step. He sighed and picked up his fork. At least he got a free dessert.