Carry On

Chapter 19

   Draco, Hermione, and I were all sitting comfortably in the common room, each with a book on our laps. Mine was the charms textbook, as I still needed to finish the essay that was assigned over break, and Hermione and Draco were reading various books they had received as gifts.
   After the events on Christmas Day, Hermione had decided to stay at Hogwarts for the rest of the break, rather than go back to the Burrow with the Weasley's. Suddenly the girl shot up from her seat, surprising both Draco and I.
   "I nearly forgot!" Was all Hermione muttered as she shot up the stairs towards the girls dormitories. Draco glanced at me in confusion, and I shrugged. After holding my gaze for a moment, he quickly looked away, cheeks coloring slightly. It had been this way since we had kissed the night before. I had woken up first, completely shocked at what had happened. Soon after, Draco had awoken. Upon seeing me, he scrambled to get up, cheekbones a petal pink I had never seen the boy sport before. He murmured something that I couldn't quite make out before practically dashing out of the room. It had hurt, but I soon came to terms with the fact that Draco had found me disgusting. After all, I had tried to kill myself. Not only that, but I was the reason Draco's father was in Azkaban. Even now, I couldn't help but berate myself for ruining what could have been something amazing. I was brought out of my pained thoughts by the blue haired boy, who was currently trying to get my attention.
   "Harry?" He asked, seeming almost tentative, yet another emotion that I had never thought Draco could show.
   "Hmm?" I hummed, wondering what Draco would ask. This was the first time we had truly spoken alone since waking up that morning, if one would count that as a conversation.
   "I was curious to know if you would like to accompany me to Hogsmead tomorrow? It is the last day before the other students arrive." He asked, determination coloring his voice. I couldn't help but be taken aback. Was Draco Malfoy asking me out on a date? No. That couldn't be it.
"Yes, I would like that." I said, refusing to recognise the fluttering in my stomach when he smiled back at me.

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   "'Mione, does this look alright?" I asked when I walked out of the bathroom in my dorm. I watched as she gave me a critical eye before sighing.
   "You really are hopeless when it come to clothing, aren't you?" Hermione got up off my bed towards my closet, pulling out different articles of clothing. I sank heavily on the bed, trying to rid myself of the nerves I had been feeling since I had woken up that morning. After a few minutes Hermione thrust the clothes she had picked out into my arms, ordering me to get dressed.
   She had chosen a more casual emerald silk button up with black stitching, charcoal coloured jeans, and dragon hide boots. I walked out, blushing when Hermione let out a rather out of character wolf whistle.
   "'Mione, don't you thinks it's a bit... much?" I asked, feeling utterly embarrassed.
   "Not at all, Harry. You look nice, and I'm sure Draco will agree." She teased, though her voice was slightly strained.
   "Hermione... If you don't want me to-" I started, but stopped when Hermione put up a hand.
   "No, Harry. I told you before that you deserve to be happy. If Draco does that, then I will do everything I can to help." She said smiling, though it seemed slightly strained. In that moment I felt just how grateful I was for saving her from that troll back in first year. I walked over and pulled her into a tight hug. When I finally pulled back, I was holding back tears. I opened my mouth to explain, but was interrupted. "I know." She said, pecking me on the cheek.
   I pulled back completely and saw her wiping away a stray tears, and found myself doing the same.
   "Anyway, you should get going. You don't want to kept your hot date waiting." She teased, winking at me. I felt the bush climbing up my neck.
   "It isn't a date." I mumbled half heartedly. She just snorted in disbelief.
   Hermione stayed back in the common room, while I made my way toward the entrance hall, where Draco told me to meet him. I felt myself gasp silently when I saw the other boy leaning casually against the wall. He wore a similar button up to my own, though it was a pale blue, slightly darker than his hair. The long sleeves were rolled midway up his arm, revealing his new tattoo. Dark, tight muggle style jeans with rips in the knees fit him snugly, showing off his slim physique.
   "Harry, didn't anyone tell it's rude to stare?" He said, a smirk on his face. I couldn't help but blush when I realised I was gawking. Draco stood up straight and walked toward me, his dragon hide boots clicking against the stone floor. "Shall we be going?" He asked, a clear invitation to back out if I wanted. I nodded, smiling slightly.
   The walk to the carriages went by rather quickly, a comfortable silence permeating. Draco opened the door, not reacting to the theastrals that pulled the carriage. I thanked him for holding the door open for me, and stepped into it, followed by the other boy.
   After a few minutes, I saw a smirk appear on Draco's face. "What?" I asked, confused.
   "Oh, nothing too pressing. I just never realised that the great saviour of the wizarding world was bent." He said, smirking widening slightly.
   "I'm not 'bent.' I'm bi." Draco just raised his eyebrows, causing me to shrug. "I never had love in my life, so I refuse to let anything as insignificant as gender stand in the way of someone I care about." I said. I had come to the conclusion a few years before, when I had realised my attraction to both males and females. It had taken almost all of fifth year to fully accept who I was.
   "Did you plan that speech, Harry?" Draco teased, smirk rapidly changing to a grin.
   "And you? The great Malfoy heir bent? What would the Prophet say?" I said in mock horror. The carriage came to a stop then, effectively cutting off any response Draco might have had.
   Draco quickly led me past most of the other shops I had gone to in the past. Hogsmead was nearly empty, aside from the few who still lived in the area. Most had moved away after it was overtaken by Voldemort. I frowned at the thought. How many people would still live here if I had been faster? How many children were ripped away from their childhood? I was brought out of my dark thoughts when Draco came to a stop in front of me. He turned and faced me, staring straight into my eyes.
   "Harry, stop." I opened my mouth to protest, but he continued. "I know exactly what you are thinking of. And you need to stop. It isn't your fault. You did more than you should have ever had to." He stated, refusing to look away. After awhile, I nodded slightly, trying to put such dark thoughts out of my mind. Draco turned and began to walk again, though we soon came to a stop in front of a small building at the edge of the village.
   When we walked in I was met with the pleasant scent of coffee mixed with some type of flower. Glancing around, I found it to be a café with rather plain wooden furnishings. There were only two people working in the shop, and rather lazily at that. Though, as they were the only people there, it was reasonable. I was surprised that Draco would come to such a place.
   Draco led me over to the booth in the farthest corner. In a few moments, one of the employees came over to take our order. Draco ordered for the both of us, ordering a butterbeer, coffee, a few sandwiches, and treacle tart. Nearly all of my favourites. I looked at him, eyebrow raised in surprise when the waitress left.
   "I watched you for half a decade, Harry, one does pick up on these things." He said, shrugging slightly. I couldn't help but blush at his words. "You're rather cute when you blush, Harry." He said, seemingly without realising. Draco stiffened, a slight pink colouring his cheeks.
   It was several hours later, and dark outside when we finally left the small café, both of us with grins on our faces. We slowly walked to the carriages, making small conversation on the way. The ride up back to Hogwarts was just as uneventful as the ride to Hogsmead. When Draco and I finally made it back to Hogwarts, it was well past curfew. Though, McGonagall likely wouldn't care, as she was the one who allowed us to go to Hogsmead in the first place.
   Hermione wasn't in the common room when we walked through the portrait, leading me to believe that she had already gone to bed.
   "This was fun, Harry." Draco said, turning toward me. "If you would like, maybe we could do this again." He said, somehow full of confidence. Harry nodded.
   "Yeah, it was really fun." I said rather lamely, blushing again. Why in Merlin's name was I acting like such a girl?
   Draco licked his lips, glancing down at my own. Slowly, he leaned forward, barely stopping short of my lips. When he met my eyes, I captured his lips. We moved in sync, not noticing when our bodies became flush. This kiss was far better than the one before. That was full of fear and desperation. This was slow, careful. Each exploring the other. After what felt like an eternity, we pulled apart, breathing heavily. I felt myself blush, but couldn't bring myself to care.
   "Goodnight Draco." I said, still slightly out of breath. I quickly leaned forward, and pecked his lips before my Gryffindor courage could fail me. I quickly darted up the stairs, barely hearing Draco respond.
   "Bloody hell." I breathed out when I was safely in my bedroom.

A/n: hey guys! Sorry it took so long to update, so to compensate, here is a super fluffy chapter! I've been having MAJOR writers block :( please leave any suggestions you have in the comments!