Drarry AI Oneshots

Snakes and Subtle Hints

Harry Potter had heard a lot of rumors about Draco Malfoy over the years. Some of them turned out to be true, like the one about him being a Death Eater. Others-like the ridiculous rumor that Draco was a werewolf-had been absurd.

But the latest one he'd overheard had caught his attention more than any other: Draco Malfoy owned a Muggle pet shop.

At first, Harry had dismissed it as just another piece of exaggerated gossip, but curiosity got the better of him. And now here he was, standing outside a quaint pet store nestled between two other shops in a quiet part of London. The sign above the door read "Malfoy's Pets and Supplies," and through the window, Harry could see a few cages, tanks, and the usual assortment of animal paraphernalia.

Harry grinned to himself. It was too good an opportunity to pass up. He stepped inside, the bell above the door tinkling as it closed behind him.

The shop was small but well-organized. There were the usual pets-cats, dogs, birds-but it wasn't until Harry spotted the reptile section at the back of the shop that his grin widened. Of course, Malfoy would have snakes.

Speaking of Malfoy, Harry hadn't seen him yet. He could hear some movement in the back room, so Harry wandered over to the snakes, peering into the glass enclosures. His ability to speak Parseltongue had returned after the war, though he didn't use it much anymore. But now? Now, he felt it could be useful.

He leaned down in front of one of the tanks, where a large, coiled python was resting lazily.

"Hello there," Harry said softly in Parseltongue.

The snake's head lifted slightly, its tongue flicking out to taste the air. "Another speaker. It has been a while."

Harry grinned. "Do you know the owner here?"

"The pale one?" the snake hissed back, its tone amused. "He talks to me often. He says many things."

"Oh?" Harry leaned closer, intrigued. "What kinds of things?"

The snake's tongue flicked again, as if in thought. "He talks about someone. Someone with messy hair. Someone who he pretends to hate, but he always speaks of this one when no one is around."

Harry's heart skipped a beat. There was no way. "What does he say?"

The snake's coils shifted lazily. "He wonders why this person never notices him. He wonders why this one, with the wild hair, never looks at him. He talks of wishing to be noticed, of being angry that he isn't. But he also speaks of admiration."

Harry's mouth went dry. Draco had been talking about him? Admiration?

Before Harry could ask more, the back door of the shop swung open, and Draco Malfoy appeared, looking slightly disheveled but still as sharp as ever. He froze when he saw Harry.

"Potter," Draco said, his voice clipped. "What are you doing here?"

Harry straightened up, trying to look casual. "I heard you owned a pet store. Thought I'd come check it out."

Draco narrowed his eyes, his arms crossing over his chest. "And of course, you'd go straight for the snakes."

Harry shrugged, a mischievous grin creeping onto his face. "What can I say? I've always had a way with them."

Draco stared at him, clearly suspicious, but didn't press the issue. "Fine. Look around if you must, but don't get in the way. I'm busy."

As Draco turned to tend to some of the other animals, Harry couldn't resist a small smirk. He walked over to where Draco was adjusting some supplies and, in a quiet voice, said, "You know, you really don't have to talk to the snakes to get my attention."

Draco froze, his hand stilling over a bag of food pellets. Slowly, he turned to face Harry, his expression unreadable. "What are you talking about?"

Harry leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The snakes. They told me."

Draco's face turned several shades of red as he sputtered, "You-you talked to the snakes?"

Harry's grin widened. "I couldn't help it. One of them said you've been talking about me. Something about my 'bloody hair'?"

Draco's face was now a deep shade of crimson, and he looked like he wanted to sink into the floor. "That's-absolutely-no business of yours, Potter!"

"Oh, come on," Harry said, trying to keep his tone light. "It's flattering, really. All this time, I thought you hated me."

Draco's mouth opened and closed several times before he finally managed to get out, "I-I don't hate you."

Harry took a step closer, his heart pounding in his chest. "I know. That's what the snakes told me."

Draco glared at him, though there was no real heat behind it. "You've got some nerve, Potter."

Harry chuckled, feeling a strange rush of excitement at how flustered Draco had become. "So, all this time, you've been ranting to the snakes about me?"

Draco's glare intensified, but his blush betrayed him. "I wasn't ranting."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oh, no?"

Draco huffed, crossing his arms even tighter. "Fine. Maybe I've mentioned you a few times."

Harry's smile softened. "And here I thought you didn't notice me."

Draco glanced away, clearly trying to gather his composure. When he finally spoke again, his voice was quieter, more uncertain. "It's not that I didn't notice you. It's just... easier this way."

"Easier to pretend you don't care?" Harry asked gently.

Draco hesitated before giving a small nod, his usual bravado slipping away. "Yes."

For a moment, they stood in silence, the air between them heavy with unspoken things. Harry's mind raced, his heart pounding in his chest. Draco didn't hate him. In fact, Draco had been thinking about him-about wanting to be noticed by him.

Harry took a deep breath, deciding to take a risk. "Well," he said slowly, "now that I know, maybe I could... I don't know, take you out for a drink sometime?"

Draco blinked, his eyes widening in surprise. "You-what?"

Harry grinned, his heart hammering. "You know, just to make it up to you. For all the times I didn't notice."

Draco stared at him for a moment, as if trying to process what Harry was saying. Then, slowly, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You're serious?"

"Completely," Harry said, his voice steady.

Draco's smile widened, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. "Alright, Potter. One drink."

Harry's grin was unstoppable now. "Great. I'll even let you pick the place."

Draco chuckled softly, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're ridiculous."

"Maybe," Harry admitted. "But at least I noticed you."

Draco's blush returned, but this time, there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Yes, Potter. I suppose you did."

And with that, Harry left the shop with a spring in his step, a small python in a box under his arm (which he had, of course, bought just to annoy Draco), and the promise of a date in the near future.

This, Harry thought, might just be the start of something really good.