The Group Chat ✧ drarry + others

thirty five

a/n: IM SO SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG TO UPDAAATEEE

i've been super busy lately and i started uni again soon after that last chapter was published and so much has happened since then. bUT AN UPDATE IS FINALLY HERE SORRY FOR THE WAIT!!!! THANK U FOR UR PATIENCE GUYS!!!! 💖💖💖💖💖 (SORRY FOR ANY TYPOS OR GRAMMATICAL ERRORS!!)

Harry and Draco made their way to Hogsmeade, hands in their coat pockets to fight off the cold. Harry buried his face further into his scarf, trying to warm his nose. He sniffled, breathing in the scent of mahogany left on it from his dorm room.

Draco glanced at him, eyeing his red cheeks and watery eyes. "You really didn't have to do this..." He muttered, looking down at the snow beneath their shoes. "You're just gonna get worse."

Harry shrugged his shoulders, looking over at Draco. "It's really nothing. Madame Pomfrey's gotta have something if I do get worse," he chuckled. Draco gave him a glare and huffed, the air in front of him turning to a puff of smoke. "You're too rash...It's gonna get you killed one day." Harry quirked up an eyebrow at the blonde. "It already has and I came back just fine," he said, smirking.

Draco's eyes became slightly wide, his eyebrows raising up to his hairline. Right. He'd forgotten about that. "You're seriously joking about that? Merlin, Potter." He scoffed, a cloud of smoke forming in front of him in the cold air. He buried his face into his scarf to hide his frown and kept his eyes downcast. Harry pursed his lips and sighed. "Sorry, just kinda used to joking about it. Makes it feel like it didn't really happen."

Draco didn't reply, opting to keep silent. The two continued making their way to Hogsmeade, and neither of them spoke again until they reached the doorway to the Leaky Cauldron.

"I get it," Draco said, lifting his chin up from his silver and emerald scarf. "Trying to make light out of something that absolutely isn't and probably left you with more scars than you can imagine. I get it. Doesn't make it cool, though."

The corner of Harry's lips quirked up a bit as they walked inside. "Alright, alright. You don't have to scold me." He and Draco made their way over to an empty table in a far corner of the pub. The two sat down, taking off their scarves and setting them aside, feeling the warmth of the pub taking its effect on them.

One of the waitresses came over to take their order, glancing uneasily towards Draco and being all smiles and giggles with Harry. The two of them noticed the obvious difference in her behavior with them, but decided to ignore it. Draco only glanced sideways, a scowl evident on his lips.

It was unlike Draco not to retaliate towards such treatment. I guess that goes to show how bad he feels today, Harry thought to himself, pursing his lips as he watched the waitress walk away. "Just ignore her," he said. "They're always like this, even with my own friends."

"Yeah, I highly doubt that," Draco muttered, still scowling and keeping his eyes on the frosted window, watching as the blurry figures of people walked by. Of course he wouldn't buy that. Nobody liked any of the Slytherins, and especially not those who came from prominent and well known Deatheater families, such as the Malfoys, even before the war. And now after it? They avoided them like the plague and rebuked them like the devil.

It's one of the reasons why Draco and the rest of his Slytherin friends went out to Hogsmeade anymore, not that anyone else would notice.

Harry sighed, fidgeting with his hands on the table. Draco glanced at him, chewing on the inside of his cheek and finally turned to face him fully. "It's fine, Harry. I don't care."

"Don't lie, I know it bothers you. And—and I care," he hesitated stating that last bit, a faint blush dusting his cheeks, but Draco brushed it off as just the cold. "Listen—" Draco sighed, running a hand through his faintly-blue hair,"I'm fine, really. And, okay, yeah—Maybe I do care and maybe it does bother me. A lot. But if I can just pretend it doesn't, maybe I'll be able to actually believe it."

"Draco—"

Draco put his hand up to shush him. "Stop. Just stop it, okay?" His tone was serious, but the quiver in his voice didn't make him sound like it. "It's fine. Let it go, alright? I don't want to talk about it anymore," he huffed out a sigh, lowering his hands and folding his arms over his chest. Harry frowned, but gave him a meek nod, letting him know he was dropping the subject. The heavy silence that lingered around them afterwards, though, suggested that this was going to be brought up again some point.

"So, what did you order?" Draco asked after a while, not being able to stand the quiet anymore.

"Mulled wine. It's good for the winter season." Harry gave him a shrug, a small smile playing on his lips. "You didn't even ask what I wanted," Draco huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. Harry's smile turned into a smirk. "I didn't have to. I already knew you'd order it."

Draco raised an eyebrow at this, trying hard not to blush. How'd Harry known that? Only anyone who's close to him would know he liked mulled wine in the cold weather. "And how'd you know that, huh, Potter?"

The latter immediately became embarrassed, fumbling with his hands and stumbling to get words out. So, this is what a flustered Harry Potter looks like? Draco could get used to it.

"Well, I—I kind of—I kind of noticed when you'd come here with Pansy and the others...Sometimes I'd be here, and I just kinda noticed."

"Hm...I'll pretend I believe you."

"It's true!"

"Sure, Potter." Draco smirked, but even behind his smug appearance, he couldn't help but feel giddy on the inside. "Let's pretend that's the case."

"Ughhh," Harry groaned burying his face into his hands, making Draco burst out into laughter.

"Stop laughing, it's not funny."

"It is to me," Draco giggled.

Harry looked up between his fingers and bit back a smile. Seeing Draco getting cheered up definitely made him feel things he probably shouldn't, but it didn't matter anymore. He was only sure that he wanted to see Draco smile more often, be able hear his laughter, and make sure he was okay.

Whatever happened during Potions was far behind them now, and even though Harry would most likely ask him about what happened later, he opted not to at the moment. He wanted to cherish this moment, where he and Draco are drinking mulled wine in the warmth of the Leaky Cauldron, enjoying each other's company and laughing together as if they'd always been friends.

Yeah, Harry wouldn't trade this for anything else in the world.

Well, maybe if it meant having Draco be his, then he just might.

a/n: well hELLO HELLO EVERYONE!!! sorry for taking so freaking long to update!! it's been a rlly eventful past few months especially after uni started and i also fell and fractured my leg so yEAH it's been quite something. anyway, we're finally getting some progress!! sorry this was mostly dialogue, i honestly just wanted harry & draco to talk for a while and get closer so here we are!!

i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, i hope to update again soon and show some progress between these two and other side couples!!! i hope u guys are doing well, remember to stay safe and wEAR UR FREAKING MASKS!!! love y'all and thnk u so much for the support! 💖💖 remember to vote, share and comment!! ✨✨

(also i went to the wizarding world of harry potter at universal over the summer and hOLY SHIT IT WAS SO COOL)