Sour Grapes

Chapter 15 - Dear Potter

Dear Potter,

Well here it is, you said you would believe it when you saw it. Do you believe it, Potter? I'm actually writing to you.

Originally I'd intended to simply ask you to meet so that I could give you a much deserved explanation for leaving Britain so suddenly without telling you where or why I was going. I do still intend to give you that explanation, however, something of a much more pressing nature has come up and I need to ask for your assistance once again.

While I would love to put it all here in a letter and skip the part where I have to watch your reaction to what I have to tell you, I'd rather not chance this message falling into the wrong hands.

Could we meet this evening? At that muggle pub we used to frequent?

Please let me know as soon as you can.

Regards,
DM

—

Dear Malfoy,

Wow it's been a while since I've written that particular greeting. It feels oddly nostalgic.

I suppose you really are you and not some sort of hoax?

Seeing as I am an Auror these days, I wouldn't be doing my due diligence if I didn't require a security check prior to agreeing to meet.

Please reply back and tell me three things only the real Draco Malfoy would be able to.

Potter

PS - this could have been avoided had you been writing to me, I'd simply know your handwriting by now, but as it is...

—

Dear Potter,

1. You absolutely threw mud at me in Hogsmeade third year, even though you weren't supposed to be there.
2. You witnessed Hermione Granger slapping me across the face that year as well, because I had come to watch that beast being slaughtered.
3. When you found me in the bathroom after Katie Bell came back, I was sobbing.

Do I pass?

DM

—

Malfoy,

Meet you at 8.

Potter

—

Draco arrived early, a bit anxious to get this unpleasantness over with but also looking forward to having some sort of direction. He made his way to their usual booth. The pub was fairly quiet as it was a Sunday night, but since it was a muggle pub he had little worry of being overheard regardless. He had recognized the bartender from his previous visits, and recalled that the man was also the owner. A strange sense of belonging washed over him as he walked by and was greeted with a knowing nod.

Potter arrived on time, striding through the door all windswept as if he'd flown there, and perhaps he had. Draco could see him clearly from where he sat, and noticed that after walking through the door, Potter looked back suspiciously as if checking whether he'd been followed. Seeming to decide all was well, he turned and began making his way to the booth.

It was Draco's turn to look suspicious, however, when a cloaked figure entered behind Potter and began advancing on him.

Draco stood and drew his wand, causing Harry to spin around, but before either could act, the figure pulled back his hood to reveal his face.

"Zabini, damn it, I knew you were following me!" Harry shouted, drawing some attention from a few patrons, as well as the muggle bartender. Not wanting to cause a scene, Draco strode forward and waved to the man behind the counter.