One Step Forward Chapter 6
A/N: Sorry for the looong wait, here's Chapter 6
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: M
Summary: Harry picking up his things from his ex-boyfriend, Draco Malfoy's apartment. He rediscovers his feelings while there, but is it too late? Has Draco moved on? -Post Hogwarts, voldemort's dead. Still in Magical world yet AU.
~~~0o0~~~
Harry was nervous, no he was beyond nervous. He felt like he was sweating everywhere, hands, forehead, the crease between the elbows and under arms. He was one sweaty mess. It was Wednesday at 12:25 pm. He was already inside The Lucky Chinese Fireball and was waiting for Draco. 'Damn', he thought, it was like their first date all over again.
He needed to clean himself up. Now. As he got up, it was already too late, Draco had arrived and was at his table.
"Hello."
"Hi."
It was beyond awkward.
"I suppose we should order something." Draco said, seating himself and already starting to flip through the menu.
Harry couldn't be quicker in agreeing as he pulled the chair out so quickly it created a scraping noise on the tiles. 'Smooth, Mister Potter, real smooth.' He thought to himself.
As Harry was figuring out his order he couldn't help but take quick glances at Draco. This was certainly not how it thought it would go and if it kept going like this they would get nowhere. Not that he wanted to get anywhere with Draco- okay well that was plainly a lie, but now did not seem the opportune time to bring about when they could have sex- IF they could have sex ever again. But Draco looked really nice today, he always looked quite handsome, but today there was just something about him.
On one of his glances, he noticed something behind Draco, near the counter area. "Great Merlin's Balls, I can't believe it."
"What is it?"
"Look behind you, it's Percy!"
Draco had turned and was seeing what Harry was seeing. Percy Weasley had his eyes covered by an unknown man, the man was grinning like there was no tomorrow.
"So? What's so surprising, I thought everyone knew he was gay?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Well of course, but he is dating Oliver Wood."
Draco looked surprised. "Oliver Wood as in your ex-captain Oliver Wood?" Harry nodded. "But that's so flaky, like a badly written romance novel, the Head Boy and the Team Captain."
Harry rolled his eyes; trust Draco to focus on something like that. "The point is, what is he doing with that guy? Oliver and Percy have been dating for four years, nearly five! Everyone thinks they are the couple that will 'withstand the test of time' and all that nonsense."
"Well, I guess circumstances change." Draco had replied softly.
Harry and Draco's eyes met. There was so much emotion in that one stare; that one moment. There was so much regret, sadness and a longing of what once was, at least this was what Harry had figured.
"I-" Draco had started. But Harry had shushed him and was looking where Percy and the man were. They were now accompanied by a very flustered Oliver.
Oliver had said something and had apparated away with Percy in tow.
"I guess, there are such things as happy endings." Harry said grinning.
Draco looked at him as if he were mad. "A happy ending! Are you insane? Wood caught Weasley cheating, how is that a happy ending? They'll probably break up and… oh wait. Wood had grabbed his dear Weasley didn't he? But that doesn't mean they won't break up when they get home, Wood might not have wanted to create a scene."
Harry raised an eyebrow, now Draco was just deluding himself. "There is no way that that'll happen, Oliver is too hot blooded for that, if he wanted to break it off then he would have, right here. It's probably just a misunderstanding. They would be shagging like bunnies in an hour, jealousy sex and all."
"Or Wood can break up with Weasley and Weasley could pack an overnight bag and just walk away, swearing that he would not enter the house again." Draco said bitterly as he raised the water that had magicked itself there some time ago.
Once again there was a silent moment but Harry didn't let it go on for too long. "Look," he said, "I went to see Hermione and Ron a few days ago and they told me everything."
Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Well okay not everything but they told me about the night of our break up."
"Ah, I see." Draco sighed. "Then what more do you want from me?"
"I want to ask you why? Why couldn't you have told me, when you told Ron, Ron of all people! It wasn't like you were the closest of friends! I also want to know how you got your boyfriend after such a short time, I know it wasn't that you didn't love me, or at the very least cared for me. Not to mention you knew this guy while we were in a relationship! I had no idea this guy even existed!" Harry felt slightly puffed.
Then the waiter came along. "Are you ready to order?"
"Give us a moment, we'll call for you when we're ready," said Draco. As soon as the waiter had gone he turned to Harry.
"Harry," Draco had reached for Harry's hand and grasped it in his. "Believe me when I tell you that I had no intention of dating another, whilst with you. I may be a selfish Slytherin, but I would have never cheated on you, never. I really had loved you, and I did not break up with you because of Xander."
Harry felt a little better, even though Ron had told him so, it didn't mean that Harry didn't feel… insecure.
"Do you remember when we got together? It was a year after the war, you and Ginny had tried to work things out but couldn't and I was someone to lean on."
Harry was flabbergasted. "Are you saying-"
Draco gave him the evil eye, "just listen okay?" Harry nodded. "So after a month you and I had become a couple and looking back on it now, it was too short a time, you more time to figure things out, to figure who you are as an individual without the looming threat of Voldemort."
Harry rolled his eyes, it was all bullshit. Not Draco's words, Harry believed that Draco truly believes his own words, but Harry knew that wasn't the case. If he wanted to have more time his 18 year old self would have told 'Malfoy' to fuck off, but Harry didn't say anything he wanted to hear it all.
"I think our relationship was created out of a need for someone to love us, for us and not for who we truly were. Then we got comfortable- now I'm not saying that I didn't love you, I did, but we created an environment where there was no place for it to grow or for us to be together, properly."
Harry nodded along, he guessed this was at least partially true. They truly did just become 'comfortable' they made no effort to keep any romance alive and didn't have any fights, because it was just so damn comfortable, not having to try or put any effort in it.
"Now, I must admit, Harry that I took things to the extreme, I broke up with you from out of nowhere, but you must admit Harry, that you didn't fight to keep us together either." With that Draco withdrew his hand away from Harry's.
Harry wished for Draco's hand back but did nothing, as he was trying to process it all the accusation and the truth.
"You know, I really wish we can go back in time and tell ourselves this just to save us the mess of all of this." Harry said taking a gulp of water.
"Mm, I know what you mean." Draco replied.
'At least the feeling is mutual,' Harry thought positively. "So… you still haven't told me 'bout dear old Xander."
Draco blushed suddenly and coughed. "Harry James Potter, you must promise not to laugh at me."
Harry grinned lopsidedly, this was going to be nice and embarrassing for Draco.
~~~0o0~~~
Two months before Harry and Draco's break up
Draco had apparated into Granger's Defence of Magical Creatures Law Firm. He needed legal counselling in this specific matter as some asshole was suing one of his buisness' for misconduct of handling dragons in relation to potion ingredients. He had his team of lawyers, however he realised he did not have a specialist in Dragons.
Draco marched right past reception not caring that the girl was stammering that 'Mrs. Weasley was not to be disturbed.'
Draco opened the door and there was Hermione and Ron, making out on her desk- clothed thankfully, but hand and legs in condemning positions.
"By Slytherins' tongue! Have you no decency!" Draco cried covering his eyes.
"Malfoy, you entered without knocking, nor appointment. These are the consequences you shall face." Hermione said mock seriously as she rearranged her hair.
"I hope this teaches you manners." Ron said taking up the same thread Hermione had.
"Alright, alright. I shall knock the next time."
"How about an appointment." Hermione muttered darkly, clearly upset at being interrupted.
~~~0o0~~~
"That happened to you too!" Harry exclaimed.
"Unfortunately. By all that is good, I swear that they making up for those two years of pent up sexual frustration when we were in school." Draco scoffed in his glass.
"Two? Try five, I swear there was something going on in our third year as well."
~~~0o0~~~
"Okay, Malfoy I have heard you case, and I recommend you Alexander Rochford. He studied Magical Creature Rights over the Height of Four Meters and has experience in ingredients law suits." Hermione then proceeded to guide him to his office.
Draco, having learned his lesson, knocked on the door and waited. When the door had opened a man with piercing blue eyes and dark brown hair with the most perfect set of lips came. Draco also noticed immediately the quality of his clothes and the shoes he was wearing. Now Draco had gotten over stereotyping but he had a hunch anyways. Besides the man was looking at him with a keen eye. Draco would never cheat on Harry mind you, however he is still able to appreciate the finesse of a well sculpted male body.
"Hello, I'm Alexander Rochford, how may I help you?"
"I'm Draco Malfoy, Hermione Weasley recommended me to see you."
~~~0o0~~~
"So that's how we met." Draco looked around for the waiter, indicating to him that he wanted to order.
Harry knew that wasn't Draco's entire story. "So how did you get together then?" Harry asked suspiciously.
It was then that the waiter had arrived. "What can I get for you sirs?" Draco, Harry had noted seemed happy for the interruption, it seemed that the most embarrassing part is coming up.
"I'll have Fried Noodles without the animation spell." Draco replied as if should the waiter put the animation spell he would surely be fired.
" And I'll have the Friend Noodles, with the animation spell."
The waiter nodded and left.
"Must you get the animation spell, it is so childish?"
Harry grinned, "I happen to find it very amusing." Harry knew that things like that bugged Draco so he just had to do it.
"Of course you would find it amusing, you haven't reached the mental maturity past the age of 15, you would still laugh at the word penis if mentioned."
Harry was trying very hard to supress the snicker he heard from that word, just to prove him wrong, but evidently that failed as a result his face was contorted oddly.
"What is wrong with you? Oh I see you are trying not to laugh, well… penis, penis, penis, penis."
Harry couldn't take it anymore, he just burst out with gallons of laughter.
"I can't believe it, really? REALLY?" Draco asked exasperated but clearly smiling at the same time.
There was a sudden beeping noise and their food landed in front of them. Harry's animated noodles and also decided to arrange themselves in the word. 'PENIS'.
Both Harry and Draco burst out laughing.
~~~0o0~~~
A/N: Hope it wasn't too boring, reviews and their reviewers are loved.
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: M
Summary: Harry picking up his things from his ex-boyfriend, Draco Malfoy's apartment. He rediscovers his feelings while there, but is it too late? Has Draco moved on? -Post Hogwarts, voldemort's dead. Still in Magical world yet AU.
~~~0o0~~~
Harry was nervous, no he was beyond nervous. He felt like he was sweating everywhere, hands, forehead, the crease between the elbows and under arms. He was one sweaty mess. It was Wednesday at 12:25 pm. He was already inside The Lucky Chinese Fireball and was waiting for Draco. 'Damn', he thought, it was like their first date all over again.
He needed to clean himself up. Now. As he got up, it was already too late, Draco had arrived and was at his table.
"Hello."
"Hi."
It was beyond awkward.
"I suppose we should order something." Draco said, seating himself and already starting to flip through the menu.
Harry couldn't be quicker in agreeing as he pulled the chair out so quickly it created a scraping noise on the tiles. 'Smooth, Mister Potter, real smooth.' He thought to himself.
As Harry was figuring out his order he couldn't help but take quick glances at Draco. This was certainly not how it thought it would go and if it kept going like this they would get nowhere. Not that he wanted to get anywhere with Draco- okay well that was plainly a lie, but now did not seem the opportune time to bring about when they could have sex- IF they could have sex ever again. But Draco looked really nice today, he always looked quite handsome, but today there was just something about him.
On one of his glances, he noticed something behind Draco, near the counter area. "Great Merlin's Balls, I can't believe it."
"What is it?"
"Look behind you, it's Percy!"
Draco had turned and was seeing what Harry was seeing. Percy Weasley had his eyes covered by an unknown man, the man was grinning like there was no tomorrow.
"So? What's so surprising, I thought everyone knew he was gay?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Well of course, but he is dating Oliver Wood."
Draco looked surprised. "Oliver Wood as in your ex-captain Oliver Wood?" Harry nodded. "But that's so flaky, like a badly written romance novel, the Head Boy and the Team Captain."
Harry rolled his eyes; trust Draco to focus on something like that. "The point is, what is he doing with that guy? Oliver and Percy have been dating for four years, nearly five! Everyone thinks they are the couple that will 'withstand the test of time' and all that nonsense."
"Well, I guess circumstances change." Draco had replied softly.
Harry and Draco's eyes met. There was so much emotion in that one stare; that one moment. There was so much regret, sadness and a longing of what once was, at least this was what Harry had figured.
"I-" Draco had started. But Harry had shushed him and was looking where Percy and the man were. They were now accompanied by a very flustered Oliver.
Oliver had said something and had apparated away with Percy in tow.
"I guess, there are such things as happy endings." Harry said grinning.
Draco looked at him as if he were mad. "A happy ending! Are you insane? Wood caught Weasley cheating, how is that a happy ending? They'll probably break up and… oh wait. Wood had grabbed his dear Weasley didn't he? But that doesn't mean they won't break up when they get home, Wood might not have wanted to create a scene."
Harry raised an eyebrow, now Draco was just deluding himself. "There is no way that that'll happen, Oliver is too hot blooded for that, if he wanted to break it off then he would have, right here. It's probably just a misunderstanding. They would be shagging like bunnies in an hour, jealousy sex and all."
"Or Wood can break up with Weasley and Weasley could pack an overnight bag and just walk away, swearing that he would not enter the house again." Draco said bitterly as he raised the water that had magicked itself there some time ago.
Once again there was a silent moment but Harry didn't let it go on for too long. "Look," he said, "I went to see Hermione and Ron a few days ago and they told me everything."
Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Well okay not everything but they told me about the night of our break up."
"Ah, I see." Draco sighed. "Then what more do you want from me?"
"I want to ask you why? Why couldn't you have told me, when you told Ron, Ron of all people! It wasn't like you were the closest of friends! I also want to know how you got your boyfriend after such a short time, I know it wasn't that you didn't love me, or at the very least cared for me. Not to mention you knew this guy while we were in a relationship! I had no idea this guy even existed!" Harry felt slightly puffed.
Then the waiter came along. "Are you ready to order?"
"Give us a moment, we'll call for you when we're ready," said Draco. As soon as the waiter had gone he turned to Harry.
"Harry," Draco had reached for Harry's hand and grasped it in his. "Believe me when I tell you that I had no intention of dating another, whilst with you. I may be a selfish Slytherin, but I would have never cheated on you, never. I really had loved you, and I did not break up with you because of Xander."
Harry felt a little better, even though Ron had told him so, it didn't mean that Harry didn't feel… insecure.
"Do you remember when we got together? It was a year after the war, you and Ginny had tried to work things out but couldn't and I was someone to lean on."
Harry was flabbergasted. "Are you saying-"
Draco gave him the evil eye, "just listen okay?" Harry nodded. "So after a month you and I had become a couple and looking back on it now, it was too short a time, you more time to figure things out, to figure who you are as an individual without the looming threat of Voldemort."
Harry rolled his eyes, it was all bullshit. Not Draco's words, Harry believed that Draco truly believes his own words, but Harry knew that wasn't the case. If he wanted to have more time his 18 year old self would have told 'Malfoy' to fuck off, but Harry didn't say anything he wanted to hear it all.
"I think our relationship was created out of a need for someone to love us, for us and not for who we truly were. Then we got comfortable- now I'm not saying that I didn't love you, I did, but we created an environment where there was no place for it to grow or for us to be together, properly."
Harry nodded along, he guessed this was at least partially true. They truly did just become 'comfortable' they made no effort to keep any romance alive and didn't have any fights, because it was just so damn comfortable, not having to try or put any effort in it.
"Now, I must admit, Harry that I took things to the extreme, I broke up with you from out of nowhere, but you must admit Harry, that you didn't fight to keep us together either." With that Draco withdrew his hand away from Harry's.
Harry wished for Draco's hand back but did nothing, as he was trying to process it all the accusation and the truth.
"You know, I really wish we can go back in time and tell ourselves this just to save us the mess of all of this." Harry said taking a gulp of water.
"Mm, I know what you mean." Draco replied.
'At least the feeling is mutual,' Harry thought positively. "So… you still haven't told me 'bout dear old Xander."
Draco blushed suddenly and coughed. "Harry James Potter, you must promise not to laugh at me."
Harry grinned lopsidedly, this was going to be nice and embarrassing for Draco.
~~~0o0~~~
Two months before Harry and Draco's break up
Draco had apparated into Granger's Defence of Magical Creatures Law Firm. He needed legal counselling in this specific matter as some asshole was suing one of his buisness' for misconduct of handling dragons in relation to potion ingredients. He had his team of lawyers, however he realised he did not have a specialist in Dragons.
Draco marched right past reception not caring that the girl was stammering that 'Mrs. Weasley was not to be disturbed.'
Draco opened the door and there was Hermione and Ron, making out on her desk- clothed thankfully, but hand and legs in condemning positions.
"By Slytherins' tongue! Have you no decency!" Draco cried covering his eyes.
"Malfoy, you entered without knocking, nor appointment. These are the consequences you shall face." Hermione said mock seriously as she rearranged her hair.
"I hope this teaches you manners." Ron said taking up the same thread Hermione had.
"Alright, alright. I shall knock the next time."
"How about an appointment." Hermione muttered darkly, clearly upset at being interrupted.
~~~0o0~~~
"That happened to you too!" Harry exclaimed.
"Unfortunately. By all that is good, I swear that they making up for those two years of pent up sexual frustration when we were in school." Draco scoffed in his glass.
"Two? Try five, I swear there was something going on in our third year as well."
~~~0o0~~~
"Okay, Malfoy I have heard you case, and I recommend you Alexander Rochford. He studied Magical Creature Rights over the Height of Four Meters and has experience in ingredients law suits." Hermione then proceeded to guide him to his office.
Draco, having learned his lesson, knocked on the door and waited. When the door had opened a man with piercing blue eyes and dark brown hair with the most perfect set of lips came. Draco also noticed immediately the quality of his clothes and the shoes he was wearing. Now Draco had gotten over stereotyping but he had a hunch anyways. Besides the man was looking at him with a keen eye. Draco would never cheat on Harry mind you, however he is still able to appreciate the finesse of a well sculpted male body.
"Hello, I'm Alexander Rochford, how may I help you?"
"I'm Draco Malfoy, Hermione Weasley recommended me to see you."
~~~0o0~~~
"So that's how we met." Draco looked around for the waiter, indicating to him that he wanted to order.
Harry knew that wasn't Draco's entire story. "So how did you get together then?" Harry asked suspiciously.
It was then that the waiter had arrived. "What can I get for you sirs?" Draco, Harry had noted seemed happy for the interruption, it seemed that the most embarrassing part is coming up.
"I'll have Fried Noodles without the animation spell." Draco replied as if should the waiter put the animation spell he would surely be fired.
" And I'll have the Friend Noodles, with the animation spell."
The waiter nodded and left.
"Must you get the animation spell, it is so childish?"
Harry grinned, "I happen to find it very amusing." Harry knew that things like that bugged Draco so he just had to do it.
"Of course you would find it amusing, you haven't reached the mental maturity past the age of 15, you would still laugh at the word penis if mentioned."
Harry was trying very hard to supress the snicker he heard from that word, just to prove him wrong, but evidently that failed as a result his face was contorted oddly.
"What is wrong with you? Oh I see you are trying not to laugh, well… penis, penis, penis, penis."
Harry couldn't take it anymore, he just burst out with gallons of laughter.
"I can't believe it, really? REALLY?" Draco asked exasperated but clearly smiling at the same time.
There was a sudden beeping noise and their food landed in front of them. Harry's animated noodles and also decided to arrange themselves in the word. 'PENIS'.
Both Harry and Draco burst out laughing.
~~~0o0~~~
A/N: Hope it wasn't too boring, reviews and their reviewers are loved.