Life Advice- Part 4
Title: Life Advice- Part 4
Author: sugareey
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: PG
Summary: Advice can come to you in some of the oddest ways.
Word count: 1,686
Disclaimer: All character belong to J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury/Scholastic, etc. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's note: Another series for the awdt Valentine Quickies. For the prompts, "If you love somebody, tell them" and "You're not the only one who feels this way". Sorry I've been a bit late with updating, but I'll try to finish this series up soon! Enjoy!
Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3
Tonight was a perfect night. With the full moon out and the sky filled with stars, Harry could make out the Big Dipper if he squinted just enough. He stood under the streetlight, observing other constellations that caught his eye. They were all beautiful. It was shame that nights like these were so scarce in February.
Harry glanced across the street at the empty bench near the café. A few couples passed by it, too enraptured with one another to notice him staring. He checked his watch on his wrist.
6:55pm.
Okay, so he was a bit early, which was unusual for him, but he had been anxious. If this was what he really wanted, it would be a miracle. Harry wouldn’t have to brood or drink himself silly at random pubs. Or even go to those crazy clubs to pick someone up. This could be something real, something that he could have all for himself. And he would be happy again. Happiness didn’t come to him so easily nowadays like it did when he first learned that he was a wizard.
Harry tapped his foot as he continued watching from afar for any sign of his date. Not that he knew what he looked like. But what he did know was that this person was very honest and charming. They wanted to befriend him, care for him. Maybe even love him. Harry was not very fond of blind dates due to the few disastrous ones he went on in the past. Of course, all the blokes had been a friend of a friend, or similar to that sort. Perhaps his “friends” didn’t know him so well, at least the few Muggle ones he had.
This date was going to be different. Harry just knew it, because every time he thought about this mystery man, he couldn’t help but smile. He felt like he had butterflies in his stomach ever since reading the letter. It was a risk to meet someone he had never met before, especially if they have been watching him. This person had information about him, and surely, they could have blackmailed him at anytime. But they never did.
A sudden movement caught his attention as a young handsome bloke with blond hair strode down the sidewalk from the right.
Dakin? No. Dakin’s hair was a bit shorter and much darker. As good-looking as Dakin was, Harry didn’t want to think about him at the moment.
The man’s head was lowered as if he were looking down. His hair blocked Harry’s view of his face, as it was hanging loose. Regardless, he looked good, thanks to the help of the streetlights. Dressed in a plain blue shirt tucked neatly into charcoal trousers, it looked like he was going somewhere fancy. Definitely fancy with those nice leather shoes on. A date, perhaps? Harry’s date? Wouldn’t that be something?
The man shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked closer to the bench. This couldn’t be Harry’s date. No way. This bloke was so perfect, all polished up with clothes that emphasised his true body physique just right. There had to be muscles under there. And a torso that Harry could wrap his arms around. Warmth he could snuggle with. Skin that he could kiss indefinitely. Fingers that could elegantly wrap around his own…
But it was too convenient.
With a deep breath, Harry hurried across the street, his heart thumping loudly. He was about to run toward the bench when he bumped into the stranger.
“I’m sorry!” Harry apologised quickly, putting a hand on the man’s arm for reassurance. “Just in a rush and-”
“Don’t worry about it,” replied a low, familiar voice that made Harry’s blood turn to ice. Impossible. The man he had been gawking at was-
“Malfoy?!” exclaimed Harry in shock, letting his mouth hang open. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Draco glanced up questionably, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “Is it necessary to yell?”
Harry shook his head, staying silent as he took his dear time to stare at Draco. Good didn’t cover how Draco looked. Gorgeous was more like it. And pity too, because Harry hadn’t seen him since the Malfoy trials. That was almost four years ago.
The streetlights must have been playing tricks with his mind because it wasn’t until now that Harry realised the pale blond hair should have been obvious, even from far away. Not only did that hair look soft to play with, but it was those grey eyes that made Harry catch his breath. They were the same eyes that had always shown disdain, anger and hatred toward him. Eyes that had always threatened to burn through him like fire. But now, they were almost warm, which was something Harry had not seen before.
Draco Malfoy still might have the same pointy face that Harry could remember from their school years, but it was clear that he had changed. They both had changed.
“Potter?”
“What?” said Harry abruptly, flushing as he looked away.
“Staring at someone like an idiot is rude,” answered Draco with a smirk, nudging Harry with a shoulder. “And close that mouth of yours. You look like a goldfish.”
“You never answered my question,” muttered Harry under his breath, glaring at Draco. “Of all places, you’re wandering around Dundee, a Muggle city!”
“And?”
“You never would have put yourself in this situation before.”
“Why does that concern you?” inquired Draco suspiciously, raising an eyebrow. “At least some people have grown up to be more open-minded. I can’t say the same for you though.”
“I see you're still quite an arse though,” replied Harry sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “Some things never change.”
“That’s wit to you, thank you very much. People like that.”
“I’m sure they do. Because making fun of people is so attractive.”
Draco tensed up, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not a naïve schoolboy anymore, you know.”
“Neither am I, but even I know that it pays off to actually be nice.”
Harry knew he said the wrong thing when Draco’s lips formed into a thin line. Those mesmerising grey eyes darkened quickly so that they stared at him with a familiar coldness that made his stomach tighten. Harry had barely talked to Draco since his trial and already, they were getting off to a rough start. As if they were still trying to keep up with their long-lost rivalry. But deep down, he knew that they were no longer rivals. Not since he had pulled Draco from the Fiendfyre. It had taken at least another 48 hours for Harry to realise that he had never really hated Draco in the first place.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Draco spat out as he continued to glower at Harry. “It almost seems like you’re dressed up for a date.”
“I’m…they haven’t arrived yet,” answered Harry quickly, wondering how Draco knew he had a date tonight. Maybe since he never dressed in something as nice as his green shirt, denims and black oxfords unless he absolutely had to. Such as in an event to impress someone.
“Well, enjoy that,” said Draco curtly as he began to walk away. “I’ll be going now, as I have other business to attend to.”
“What other business could you possibly have here?” questioned Harry incredulously, reaching out to grab Draco’s wrist. “Seriously, Malfoy! You’ve been away from Scotland for at least four years, and suddenly you came back?! It doesn’t make any sense! And not even to Wiltshire-”
“I would prefer not to stay at the manor, if that means anything to you,” sneered Draco, yanking his wrist out of Harry’s grasp. “And what I do doesn’t have to make sense to you. I’m doing what I need to do to move on. To get my life going again.”
“Yeah. I guess so. You’re not the only one who feels this way.”
Draco gave Harry a puzzled look before backing up. He licked his lips and nodded. “Well, see you then.”
Before Harry had a chance to say anything else, Draco was already on his way down the sidewalk, never looking back once. Harry secretly wished he did though. Even one tiny glimpse would have been satisfying to know that he meant something to Draco. Did it mean nothing to him that Harry was one of the few wizards that had been willing to defend him? To fight for his life? Perhaps Harry had made a mistake. Clearly, Harry’s respect for Draco meant nothing.
Feeling dejected, Harry sat down on the bench. He checked his watch.
7:40pm.
As much as he kept telling himself that his date would be coming, it took another half hour for Harry to decide to go home. It took another twenty minutes for him to conclude that this whole night had been a trick. That his admirer never really admired him at all. And perhaps Harry was really that pathetic to believe in all lies those letters had been feeding him. Lies. Just like the rest of his life.
It wasn’t until Harry was fumbling for his keys to open the door to his flat when he saw it.
Another dark red carnation and a sheet of lined paper folded in half. Something was written on the note. To Harry. From Yours Truly.
He almost ripped the note as he unfolded it hastily. Maybe this was an apology. Perhaps his date wanted to make it up to him and they could meet again tomorrow night. But then, the heavy feeling that Harry had been carrying in his stomach transformed into fury as his eyes scanned the letter.
If you love somebody, tell them.
“Like hell you will.”
With that, Harry crumpled the paper and threw it on the floor. Finally unlocking the door, he stepped on the carnation as he walked into his flat. If there was one thing he hated the most, it was cold feet. But the single thing worse than that was to be rejected by a person he could have easily fallen in love with.
Part 5
Author: sugareey
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: PG
Summary: Advice can come to you in some of the oddest ways.
Word count: 1,686
Disclaimer: All character belong to J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury/Scholastic, etc. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's note: Another series for the awdt Valentine Quickies. For the prompts, "If you love somebody, tell them" and "You're not the only one who feels this way". Sorry I've been a bit late with updating, but I'll try to finish this series up soon! Enjoy!
Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3
Tonight was a perfect night. With the full moon out and the sky filled with stars, Harry could make out the Big Dipper if he squinted just enough. He stood under the streetlight, observing other constellations that caught his eye. They were all beautiful. It was shame that nights like these were so scarce in February.
Harry glanced across the street at the empty bench near the café. A few couples passed by it, too enraptured with one another to notice him staring. He checked his watch on his wrist.
6:55pm.
Okay, so he was a bit early, which was unusual for him, but he had been anxious. If this was what he really wanted, it would be a miracle. Harry wouldn’t have to brood or drink himself silly at random pubs. Or even go to those crazy clubs to pick someone up. This could be something real, something that he could have all for himself. And he would be happy again. Happiness didn’t come to him so easily nowadays like it did when he first learned that he was a wizard.
Harry tapped his foot as he continued watching from afar for any sign of his date. Not that he knew what he looked like. But what he did know was that this person was very honest and charming. They wanted to befriend him, care for him. Maybe even love him. Harry was not very fond of blind dates due to the few disastrous ones he went on in the past. Of course, all the blokes had been a friend of a friend, or similar to that sort. Perhaps his “friends” didn’t know him so well, at least the few Muggle ones he had.
This date was going to be different. Harry just knew it, because every time he thought about this mystery man, he couldn’t help but smile. He felt like he had butterflies in his stomach ever since reading the letter. It was a risk to meet someone he had never met before, especially if they have been watching him. This person had information about him, and surely, they could have blackmailed him at anytime. But they never did.
A sudden movement caught his attention as a young handsome bloke with blond hair strode down the sidewalk from the right.
Dakin? No. Dakin’s hair was a bit shorter and much darker. As good-looking as Dakin was, Harry didn’t want to think about him at the moment.
The man’s head was lowered as if he were looking down. His hair blocked Harry’s view of his face, as it was hanging loose. Regardless, he looked good, thanks to the help of the streetlights. Dressed in a plain blue shirt tucked neatly into charcoal trousers, it looked like he was going somewhere fancy. Definitely fancy with those nice leather shoes on. A date, perhaps? Harry’s date? Wouldn’t that be something?
The man shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked closer to the bench. This couldn’t be Harry’s date. No way. This bloke was so perfect, all polished up with clothes that emphasised his true body physique just right. There had to be muscles under there. And a torso that Harry could wrap his arms around. Warmth he could snuggle with. Skin that he could kiss indefinitely. Fingers that could elegantly wrap around his own…
But it was too convenient.
With a deep breath, Harry hurried across the street, his heart thumping loudly. He was about to run toward the bench when he bumped into the stranger.
“I’m sorry!” Harry apologised quickly, putting a hand on the man’s arm for reassurance. “Just in a rush and-”
“Don’t worry about it,” replied a low, familiar voice that made Harry’s blood turn to ice. Impossible. The man he had been gawking at was-
“Malfoy?!” exclaimed Harry in shock, letting his mouth hang open. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Draco glanced up questionably, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “Is it necessary to yell?”
Harry shook his head, staying silent as he took his dear time to stare at Draco. Good didn’t cover how Draco looked. Gorgeous was more like it. And pity too, because Harry hadn’t seen him since the Malfoy trials. That was almost four years ago.
The streetlights must have been playing tricks with his mind because it wasn’t until now that Harry realised the pale blond hair should have been obvious, even from far away. Not only did that hair look soft to play with, but it was those grey eyes that made Harry catch his breath. They were the same eyes that had always shown disdain, anger and hatred toward him. Eyes that had always threatened to burn through him like fire. But now, they were almost warm, which was something Harry had not seen before.
Draco Malfoy still might have the same pointy face that Harry could remember from their school years, but it was clear that he had changed. They both had changed.
“Potter?”
“What?” said Harry abruptly, flushing as he looked away.
“Staring at someone like an idiot is rude,” answered Draco with a smirk, nudging Harry with a shoulder. “And close that mouth of yours. You look like a goldfish.”
“You never answered my question,” muttered Harry under his breath, glaring at Draco. “Of all places, you’re wandering around Dundee, a Muggle city!”
“And?”
“You never would have put yourself in this situation before.”
“Why does that concern you?” inquired Draco suspiciously, raising an eyebrow. “At least some people have grown up to be more open-minded. I can’t say the same for you though.”
“I see you're still quite an arse though,” replied Harry sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “Some things never change.”
“That’s wit to you, thank you very much. People like that.”
“I’m sure they do. Because making fun of people is so attractive.”
Draco tensed up, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not a naïve schoolboy anymore, you know.”
“Neither am I, but even I know that it pays off to actually be nice.”
Harry knew he said the wrong thing when Draco’s lips formed into a thin line. Those mesmerising grey eyes darkened quickly so that they stared at him with a familiar coldness that made his stomach tighten. Harry had barely talked to Draco since his trial and already, they were getting off to a rough start. As if they were still trying to keep up with their long-lost rivalry. But deep down, he knew that they were no longer rivals. Not since he had pulled Draco from the Fiendfyre. It had taken at least another 48 hours for Harry to realise that he had never really hated Draco in the first place.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Draco spat out as he continued to glower at Harry. “It almost seems like you’re dressed up for a date.”
“I’m…they haven’t arrived yet,” answered Harry quickly, wondering how Draco knew he had a date tonight. Maybe since he never dressed in something as nice as his green shirt, denims and black oxfords unless he absolutely had to. Such as in an event to impress someone.
“Well, enjoy that,” said Draco curtly as he began to walk away. “I’ll be going now, as I have other business to attend to.”
“What other business could you possibly have here?” questioned Harry incredulously, reaching out to grab Draco’s wrist. “Seriously, Malfoy! You’ve been away from Scotland for at least four years, and suddenly you came back?! It doesn’t make any sense! And not even to Wiltshire-”
“I would prefer not to stay at the manor, if that means anything to you,” sneered Draco, yanking his wrist out of Harry’s grasp. “And what I do doesn’t have to make sense to you. I’m doing what I need to do to move on. To get my life going again.”
“Yeah. I guess so. You’re not the only one who feels this way.”
Draco gave Harry a puzzled look before backing up. He licked his lips and nodded. “Well, see you then.”
Before Harry had a chance to say anything else, Draco was already on his way down the sidewalk, never looking back once. Harry secretly wished he did though. Even one tiny glimpse would have been satisfying to know that he meant something to Draco. Did it mean nothing to him that Harry was one of the few wizards that had been willing to defend him? To fight for his life? Perhaps Harry had made a mistake. Clearly, Harry’s respect for Draco meant nothing.
Feeling dejected, Harry sat down on the bench. He checked his watch.
7:40pm.
As much as he kept telling himself that his date would be coming, it took another half hour for Harry to decide to go home. It took another twenty minutes for him to conclude that this whole night had been a trick. That his admirer never really admired him at all. And perhaps Harry was really that pathetic to believe in all lies those letters had been feeding him. Lies. Just like the rest of his life.
It wasn’t until Harry was fumbling for his keys to open the door to his flat when he saw it.
Another dark red carnation and a sheet of lined paper folded in half. Something was written on the note. To Harry. From Yours Truly.
He almost ripped the note as he unfolded it hastily. Maybe this was an apology. Perhaps his date wanted to make it up to him and they could meet again tomorrow night. But then, the heavy feeling that Harry had been carrying in his stomach transformed into fury as his eyes scanned the letter.
If you love somebody, tell them.
“Like hell you will.”
With that, Harry crumpled the paper and threw it on the floor. Finally unlocking the door, he stepped on the carnation as he walked into his flat. If there was one thing he hated the most, it was cold feet. But the single thing worse than that was to be rejected by a person he could have easily fallen in love with.
Part 5