Chapter Text
The Muggle cafe was as cozy as Draco had hoped. She had chosen that place because she knew it wasn’t common for wizards to frequent it, offering her a refuge from everything her last name still meant in the wizarding world. Despite that, there sat Harry Potter, right in front of her, with his messy hair and a smile so natural it was as if they had always done this.
They were chatting easily until Harry casually mentioned that the library Draco was planning to visit next week had a kids’ section that Scorpius might enjoy. That didn’t go unnoticed by Draco, who was lifting her coffee cup to her lips and froze halfway through the motion. She narrowed her eyes and slowly set the cup down, crossing her arms until Harry stopped talking and realized his mistake.
"Sorry?" he mumbled, shrugging.
"You don't look sorry, Potter," she said, raising an eyebrow. Then, with a dramatic sigh, she added, "However, this only confirms you're still stalking me just like you did at Hogwarts, and now Hermione is your accomplice."
Harry opened his mouth to protest but stopped. Draco immediately knew she was right.
"Oh, please," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Only Pansy and Hermione know where I go every week. Pansy's way too busy with her own work dramas to report everything I do, so that leaves Hermione."
Harry sighed, giving in.
"You're right. Hermione told me."
Unable to help herself, a smile spread across Draco’s face.
"I can't believe it. The brilliant and morally incorruptible Hermione Granger is helping you stalk me."
Harry laughed, which made Draco’s smile widen even more, though she quickly tried to hide it.
"It’s not stalking if it's for a good cause," Harry said with a half-smile, trying to stay calm.
Draco snorted, focusing on her coffee almost distractedly, another smile threatening to escape.
"And what is this great cause, Potter? Annoy me until I leave the country?"
"Mione says I should take any opportunity to be close to you and get to know you better. And honestly, I think she's right."
Draco narrowed her eyes.
"And why would you believe that?"
Harry leaned slightly over the table, his expression more serious than Draco expected.
"Because I want to get to know you."
Draco blinked, her brain trying to find the mockery in his words, but there was none.
"Get to know me?" she repeated skeptically.
"Yes. See you beyond who you were at Hogwarts or what your last name means to others," Harry said naturally, as if it was the simplest thing in the world. His green eyes watched her intently. "Because in these more than twenty times we've bumped into each other, I've realized I like talking to you, I like the way you frown when you're thinking, and I'm impressed by how much you love Scorpius."
Draco felt her heart stop for a second. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had said something like that to her. She didn’t know what to answer. She looked down at her coffee, pretending to find something interesting in the foam melting on the surface.
"That sounds dangerous, Potter," she murmured, her voice a little lower than she would have liked.
Harry smiled sideways, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Then, would you like me to make it sound safer?"
Draco looked at him with a mix of disbelief, but when Harry held her gaze with that typical Gryffindor boldness, she realized there was no point in pretending his words hadn’t stirred something inside her, making her resolve falter.
"I could stop pretending I run into you by coincidence and actually make real plans," Harry said. "What do you think about having dinner together?"
Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Just dinner?"
Harry smiled, but there was a hint of nervousness in his expression, as if he wasn't sure how she would react.
"Sure, two adults who enjoy talking and want to get to know each other," he answered cautiously. "If you want to call it a date, I won't complain."
Draco let out a low chuckle, resting her chin on her hand. She knew it wasn’t just about dinner; it was about what agreeing to it implied. But when she looked up and saw Harry waiting with a mixture of hope and vulnerability...
"Alright," she finally said, exhaling as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "We'll have dinner tomorrow."
She had accepted, almost without thinking. But now, with Scorpius cuddled against her and no one available to look after him, she had to cancel.
She sighed and grabbed the Floo powder.
"Number twelve, Grimmauld Place."
The green flames illuminated Harry’s cozy living room. It definitely looked better than Draco remembered from her childhood. It no longer seemed dark and grim. Harry appeared with a bottle of water in hand, looking terribly attractive. Judging by the sweat on his forehead and the compression shirt clinging perfectly to his muscles, he had just finished training. Draco had a hard time looking away but forced herself to.
"Draco," Harry greeted her with a smile. Then he turned his gaze to the small child in her arms. "And Scorpius."
The boy, half-asleep, looked at him curiously and clung even tighter to his stuffed toy and his mother.
"Hey, Potter, I'm sorry, but I can’t make it. My parents and Pansy are busy, and I don't want to inconvenience you by bringing Scorp."
Harry tilted his head, his expression not changing in the slightest. If anything, he looked excited.
"And why don’t you bring him?"
Draco blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"I mean, if he’s the only reason you’re cancelling, bring him along. I’d love to have him here."
"Harry... this is a..." she trailed off, not quite knowing what to call their meeting.
"Yeah, a date. And you're his mom. He's part of the package, isn't he?"
Draco studied him closely. He didn’t sound like he was saying it out of obligation; he sounded genuinely excited.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely," Harry said. "Besides, Rose says Scorpius is the best magical block builder. I have to see it for myself."
Still cuddled against Draco’s shoulder, Scorpius blinked heavily, his eyelids drooping and lifting as he fought off sleep.
"Bock?" he murmured.
Harry smiled, touched.
"Yeah, little one. We’re going to build the tallest tower ever. Oh, and I also have Teddy’s toy broom at home, so we can practice a little."
At that, Scorpius immediately lifted his head, the sleepiness vanishing from his now bright and excited eyes.
"Teddy? My Teddy?"
Draco barely managed to contain a smile at his reaction.
"Yes, that Teddy," Harry said, amused.
Scorpius stared at him, mouth slightly open, his little hands clutching Draco’s neck.
"You know my Teddy?"
"Of course," Harry replied. "I’ve known him since he was even smaller than you."
The little boy frowned deeply in concentration.
"Teddy... baby," he said, patting his own head with a tiny hand. "Little like this."
"Exactly," Harry agreed, smiling as if Scorpius’ words were the greatest discovery in the world.
Scorpius stayed thoughtful for a moment, lips pursed, then nodded solemnly, satisfied with the explanation. Meanwhile, Draco watched the scene, feeling an unexpected warmth spreading through her chest.
"Well," Draco sighed, pretending to be resigned. "I suppose we'll go."
"Awesome!" Harry said enthusiastically, flashing a smile at both Scorpius and Draco. "I'm excited to meet the best tower builder and future Quidditch player like me."
Scorpius gasped dramatically, placing both little hands on his chest.
"Quiddi?"
Harry nodded gravely, as if sharing a great secret.
"Yes, I play Quidditch."
Scorpius’ eyes widened, round as saucers.
"Fly!"
"That's right," Harry confirmed, barely containing a laugh.
Amazed, Scorpius turned to Draco, tugging urgently on her robe with his tiny hands.
"Mummy, mummy! Fly!"
Draco smiled widely, unable to resist.
"Yes, Scorp. He flies. Like the players you watch with Grandpa during the matches."
"Waaah!" Scorpius exclaimed, clapping clumsily, his excitement overflowing. Then he turned back to Harry with pure adoration in his eyes.
"I want Quiddi!"
"We’ll see," Draco said quickly, shooting Harry a warning look.
Harry simply raised his hands in surrender, his face lit up with a smile that made Draco’s heart flutter.