“What? What do you mean you’re leaving to get away from everything for a while?!” Ron Weasley asked his best mate, Harry Potter, incredulously.
“C’mon, Ron,” soothed their other best friend, Hermione Granger. “You know what Harry goes through every time he’s out in public.”
I wish that were the only reason, Harry thought. But he said, “Thanks, Herms. It’s been seven years and it hasn’t calmed down at all, Ron. You know that,” he sighed. “Maybe if I drop off the face of the Wizarding World for awhile it’ll take some of the heat off of me.”
“Yeah, well. I can’t wait to see you try to explain that to Mum,” his eyes grew wide. “And what about Draco? He’s become as close to us as the three of us were before the Final Battle. Hell, you two spend more time together than we spend with either of you. How are you going to break it to him?”
Harry rolled his eyes. “I doubt he’ll care as much as you seem to think he will.” I wish he’d care that much!
“You know Draco cares a lot about you, Harry,” interjected Hermione quietly, as if reading his thoughts. “I think this is going to hurt him more than you think.”
Don’t get your hopes up, Potter. They’re just reading more into it because they want to see you ‘happily in love’. He squashed his rising hop ruthlessly. “Well, I’m going out with him to the club tomorrow night. I’ll tell him then.”
Ron shook his head as Hermione sighed. “I hope you don’t up regretting this, mate.”
“I need to do this, Ron. I really do.”
*************
After meeting Draco at his apartment, they Apparated to the club.
“Wow! This place is on fire tonight,” yelled Draco above the din of music and talking patrons.
“Yeah, it looks good,” Harry agreed halfheartedly.
“What’s wrong, Harry? You don’t seem to be enjoying yourself as much as usual.”
“I have a lot on my mind,” he said as a new song started.
“Well, let me take your mind off of it tonight. Let’s dance!”
Harry stared at Draco in shock. “You want to dance with me?”
Draco grinned at his friend as he downed his second shot. “Why not? What's a dance between friends?”
Harry considered it, then broke out in a grin that rivaled the Slytherins. “Alright. Why not?”
Draco laughed. “That's the spirit!” He held out his hand to Harry.
Harry smiled, took the proffered hand, and allowed himself to be lead. As they reached the dance floor, the song ended and the ballad “I'll Be” by the Goo Goo Dolls came on.
“Oh, well,” sighed Harry, partially relieved. “I guess we'll wait for another one.”
“Are you crazy?” Draco asked. “I love this song! Dance with me.”
Harry winced internally, then plastered a smile on his face. “Okay, then. Let's do it!”
Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's waist, leaving Harry's only recourse to wrap his arms around Draco's shoulders.
They didn't talk while they danced, just swayed in each other arms.
I need to tell Harry how I feel, Draco thought as he reveled in the feeling of having the Gryffindor in his arms.
