Empty Spaces

Chapter 24

"And don't even try," Potter reprimanded as they made their way outside, "I'm paying and I will hex you if you don't let me. I'm happy for you and proud of you and I want to take you out to show you how happy and proud I am. I can't believe I just had to explain that, but whatever. Okay??"

See? Potter doesn't play the game. Potter isn't like that.

"Fine," Draco gave in, "But only because I'm getting the next round once I get paid."

"Sure, whatever you need to tell yourself," Potter replied, shaking his head as they walked through the snow covered streets. "You warm enough?" He asked suddenly, glancing over. It was a genuine question, sincere and concerned, one that Draco couldn't help smiling at. Nobody asked these sorts of things... well, nobody except Potter, apparently.

"Yea," Draco lied. He hated the cold, with a vengeance. The Manor was always cold, not only in physical temperature, but in every sense of the word, and it all manifested in countless moments of intense loneliness and misery throughout his entire life... of course, it didn't help that the Slytherin dorms were cold, too. If he had his way, he would never be cold again. Cold meant alone, but it also meant hiding, neither of which Draco realized he had the wherewithal to continue with for much longer.

"No you're not," Potter observed. He pulled out his wand, delivered another "Caldorium," and Draco was struck once again feeling as if his clothes had been left in the sun all day. "You need warmer stuff, Malfoy...".

"Yea, well, I'll just add it to the list..." Draco said without thinking. Now that he was on his own, he was keenly aware of every single little thing he used.

"Hey," Potter said, taking Draco's hand in his, "You're doing great. Come on, you deserve it."

"I haven't actually done anything yet," Draco protested halfheartedly. Potter's enthusiasm was infectious, but Draco was having a hard time believing it nonetheless.

"Yea you have," Potter stopped and stared him down in the snow, "You're living on your own, in your own flat, and you're about to start making your own money. You've come back to school to pass your exams and then you're going to go off and do whatever the hell it is that you want to do with your own life. You're going to do it, and you're going to be amazing at it because that's what you do..." Potter paused for a moment, contemplating, and when he spoke again, his voice was quieter. "And... being with you makes me think that maybe there's a chance I can do those things, too."

"Fuck, Potter, what am I supposed to say to that?" Draco said, taking Potter's hands in his and looking up at the falling snow. What do you want in return? What is your real message, what are you actually trying to tell me?

"Nothing, idiot, just accept the compliment and then let me buy you breakfast," Potter leaned up and kissed him. "Come on, you're freezing..."

Feeling thoroughly confused and strangely happy, Draco did just that. It's Potter. Potter doesn't play the game. Potter just shits around, but that's the point! No hidden messages, no side agendas... just... Potter being Potter. And then they were at the school gates together.

"You okay?" Potter asked just before they entered the grounds, giving Draco's hand a squeeze. Finally, some subtext that he understood: Are you okay with everyone knowing?

"Yea," Draco said quietly, returning the squeeze. I'm going to hell anyway. Might as well go all in, especially if you're going with me. "You?"

"Never better," Potter replied with the same goofy grin that Draco was beginning to associate with these conversations.

Granger's smug expression when they entered Holmberg's classroom told Draco all he needed to know. It was almost as amusing as the shocked look that Weasley wore, and Draco couldn't resist flashing a smirk in their direction as he and Potter headed to their spot in the front corner. Draco liked Granger well enough, she was clever and observant and categorical in her thinking, all respectable traits in Draco's book. Weasley, he could tolerate if it meant making Potter happy, and making Potter happy was now extremely high on his priority list.