Work Text:
“Cappucino for Drake Malf!”
Harry choked heavily on his coffee. Drake Malf?!
A man walked up to the counter while Harry still coughed. He had short hair, brown instead of blond, wearing casual shirt instead of expensive suit or robes, but…
Drake Malf? Really? That sounded too close to a name that Harry was very familiar with.
Harry ducked his head when the man turned. He could see it on his peripheral vision that the man gave him a stink eye as he walked out but Harry chose to clean his spilled coffee.
In the safety of tinkling bell that Harry dared to turn and blatantly observe the walking away Drake Malf. His hair might be brown, but the way he walked, the way he carried himself, reminded Harry of someone who was long disappeared from wizarding world.
He looked like he was up to something!
Exhilaration ran up Harry’s spine. It had been so long since he'd felt anything remotely like this. Harry felt so giddy he could barely contain his grin. He had to figure Drake Malf out!
Harry only hoped Drake Malf wouldn’t recognize him in this face he borrowed from Polyjuice, as Harry wouldn’t have recognized the brown haired man if he hadn’t had to think twice about Drake Malf.
**
“Someone snorted at my name this morning!” Draco bellowed as he banged the door open. He was sure he had the right to. Someone snorted at his name!
“Who wouldn’t? You call yourself ‘Drake Malf’!” Pansy answered.
What the heck.
“And whose idea was that? YOURS, unhelpful wretch!”
“And whose fault was that? You always responded belatedly when we tried to call you Damon.”
“Yes,” unfortunately, Draco remembered. Fake name had been direly needed but Draco hadn’t been able to respond naturally to any other names. “That’s why I have to be called Drake Malf, isn’t it? My blood boils everytime someone says that name. No mistaking that they call for me.”
“And whose idea was that? MINE, you ungrateful arse. I’m genius.”
“I hate you.”
“I never call you Drake,” Greg said timidly from the kitchen counter.
“That’s one of many reasons why you’re my best friend.”
Greg beamed. When Greg grinned like that, Draco felt worthy.
But Greg’s smile dimmed. “But, Pansy?” he asked, timid again.
“You both are my best friends, but she’s slightly below you in my rank of favourite.”
Greg tried to hide his pride at that.
“I hate you,” Pansy replied hotly. Leering at abashedly smiling Greg, she said, “Both of you.”
Greg’s smile dimmed again. “But Pansy, I’m your best friend, right?” he asked insecurely.
“Of course Greg! Actually, you’re slightly above Draco in my rank of favourite.”
Greg beamed again.
Draco rolled his eyes.
**
“He calls himself Drake Malf!” Harry waved his hands in disbelieve.
“That’s a horrible fake name,” Ron responded, but still gave Harry an undecipherable look.
“Are you sure he is really Malfoy?” Hermione still sounded skeptic.
“One hundred percent. Well, ninety five percent. The way he walks, the way he talks when he explains things, the way he eats-“
“The way he eats?” Ron muttered hysterically. Harry chose to ignore that.
“-his whole mannerism screams ‘Malfoy’. But, why would he willingly talk to muggles? Buy things from them? Living in third store flat in dingy alley-“
“Wait! How do you know that?” Hermione asked sharply.
“Well… I followed him-“
“This whole day?! Oh my God, Harry!” Hermione sounded really exasperated.
“That’s stalkerish, mate!”
“What else should I do? Place a tracing charm on him in muggle environment?”
“What about let him be?”
“What?” Harry exclaimed. Let him be? What a lousy idea! “But then how could we know why he disappeared from magical life? How he gets there? How could Pureblood Malfoy survive living in Muggle World? Who is guiding him through muggle’s way of living? Why does he live in a small dingy flat instead of in a posh wealthy district? How does he disguise himself without-”
Ron and Hermione shared a look. Harry stopped voicing a hundred more questions in his head because he knew he wouldn't like their answer. “Good questions, mate, but it doesn’t concern our lives, does it?”
Well, right. This was useless. They didn’t understand…
“But anyway, is his disguise also handsome?” Hermione asked with a glint in her eyes.
“Mione!”
**
In the end, Harry couldn't sleep.
How was he supposed to go to work if he couldn't stop all his questions about Malfoy floating around his head?
With no one could give him an answer?
Right, desperate time needed desperate measure.
Harry had to take his annual leave!
**
"I admit, you look evenmore sophisticated with that necklace on," Draco tried subtly, leaned back to emphasize the toned shoulders -or body- he borrowed.
"Even more?" the woman smiled charmingly.
"Even more," Draco said truthfully. The woman was beautiful and fun conversationalist. No denying that. Draco might fall for her trick if they met in a different circumstance.
Fortunately, he knew she wasn't genuine. He actually knew the necklace didn't belong to her. It belonged to his client, who was a jerk, who was this woman's ex.
Whatever. A job was a job. Jerk or not, his client wanted the necklace back, so Draco had to obtain it. "Only selected people allowed to make a bid to that necklace." Draco leaned closer. "Are you secretly a royal?"
The woman chuckled brightly, but her eyes darted away.
"What do you think?"
"With grace as impeccable as yours, I won't be surprised."
The woman looked a little surprised, straightening her posture even more. Maybe for this once Draco wouldn't have to use magic to retrieve that necklace? Maybe he could just be as charming as he -actually- was and make her return it herself?
She met his gaze with a careful, beautiful, smile. "What if I am?"
Draco sighed internally. He could see how this was going to play. Without magic? Not bloody likely.
**
Really? Harry waited, followed, ate, paid ridiculous amount for a portion that didn't even make him full, to watch Malfoy date? Using a different disguise?
What the heck?!
What was so special about that woman?
She didn't seem like she'd known Malfoy before. She didn't deserve him. She didn't even know Malfoy at all!
Not that Harry cared. Harry didn't care, at all.
But.
Malfoy flirted with disguise on. That meant he wasn't serious, right?
Ugh, whatever! Should just leave right now. Today's surveillance was useless anyway.
**
“I need you to tell me all details about him,” Draco said, all business-like. Back to his usual brown haired disguise. He loved his job.
“Uhm," his client started. He looked like a nice, ordinary, happy-family man. No sign of suspicious behaviour, nor malicious intention of revenge or anything. Maybe this potential job wouldn't need a lot of law-breaking for Draco. Draco loved this job evenmore. "This is his picture. He worked for my family for a week, redesigning our living room. He didn't talk much outside asking everyone's opinion about several additional items to be bought, not at all suspicious."
"Where is he from? How did you know him? Why did you decide to hire him?"
"I looked up some ads. Picked one interior design company, and they sent him."
"No previous relation, then?"
"None, as far as I know."
"Did he look like he's already taken interest in the grandfather clock?"
"Well, he expressed how unique it was, the first day he took a look at our house. He asked about its history, then stopped when realizing none of us knew the answer. I didn't take much notice until now it's stolen."
"This grandfather clock, is it really valuable? Gold plated, diamond studded, or anything like that?"
"It is pleasing to look at, with intricate gold-like carvings and obsidian base. Designed by Anthurio Bonedi, my grand-grandfather's favourite antique designer."
"Nothing else missing in your house?"
"No. That's why it's weird. No money or jewellry is taken, or else I'm gonna report it as burglary. But no, nothing else."
"No other antique items in your house?"
"No, that clock was only in my house because my Father passed it down."
"Then maybe you don't realize how valuable it is-"
Shocked gasp.
"-or it holds personal value to him."
"I..."
"Now this is simply about what you want. Do you want the clock back, or do you want to talk to the man and find the reason behind the theft? I'll help you either way. But if my future observation reveals another motive that differs from previous deductions, I'll let you know."
"I just want the clock back."
"Then I'll get it back to you," Draco smiled charmingly.
**
Malfoy was a thief.
Malfoy was a thief?
Harry couldn't believe this!
Harry couldn't believe it more than the fact that Malfoy was using magic while operating.
The fact that Malfoy somehow managed to glamour himself to another different face and managed to cast Disillusionment in a dark alley in Muggle Area without triggering Ministry's tracker, that he still lived with magic even though he lives in non-magical environment was in fact more believable to Harry than Malfoy breaking into a house.
And Harry couldn't even be sure because of the Disillusionment.
All that he saw was that a door was quietly opened, then closed, and Harry faintly heard it was locked, and several steps away from the door, Malfoy walked away with his disguise intact.
Malfoy was a con-man thief?
Under the lamp street on a sidewalk porch in the chill of the night Harry sat, stunned. Suddenly Harry was exhausted. He didn't know what to expect to come out of this -observing and following Malfoy from distance, while also wearing a disguise for himself-. But certainly not this...
Why was Harry disappointed?
Malfoy used magic. Malfoy breached the Statute of Secrecy without detection. Must have already done it multiple times. The Auror in Harry should've been outraged because of that. Yet...
He just felt lost. Sad. Like a chance was snagged from him.
Why did Harry think Malfoy might have become a better person by now?
**
"I think someone was following me."
"What?"
"How?"
"I don't know... I'm not sure to be honest. He's never close, always maintain a good distance behind me. And maybe he just really wanted to buy some pastries in that particular patisserie, but..."
"Is he around?" Pansy checked through the window.
"No way I'm going here if I think he's still following me, Pans!"
"Sorry, just checking."
"He lost me since I casted Notice-Me-Not."
"Is he a muggle or a wizard?"
"I don't know, Greg! I don't know if he's a wizard, I don't know if he's a police, I don't want to risk being exposed if he's actually following me!" Merlin, he was so frustrated!
"I'm sorry, Draco."
Damn, that pitiful tone of Greg… "Damn, no, I'm sorry I yelled, Greg. I'm just frustrated that I know nothing about this too, and I'm not even sure if this was all a coincidence. I guess I'll just have to stay low for now, looking for another kind of job-"
"But without qualifications, muggles always reject us."
Draco smirked smugly, if only to appease Greg. "Maybe this time's the charm. "
**
"Excuse me, Sir, can I have a little of your time?"
"I'm sorry I-"
"Do you happen to know about Drake Malf?" Harry pushed. He was already waiting for too long to talk to this man, damn if he couldn't get any answers. Harry tried to let Malfoy be but thief? Somehow that idea sounded too farfetched to be applied to someone like Malfoy.
"Oh," his expression was changing, more open. "Are you a client too?"
"Uh." What? "Not yet?"
"Do you want a testimony? Because he's good at what he does."
"What did he do?"
The man raised an eyebrow. "For me? Finding my stolen grandfather clock. Yesterday he's already sent it to my house, and I only asked him a week ago."
"Do you know how he does it?"
"No, he won't tell. Bad for business, bad for confidentiality. Fair enough, I guess."
"Yeah..." Stealing back a stolen clock? What kind of job it was? "How do you get to hire him?"
"Do you want a name card? Wait, I have one... "
"No," Wait, name card? He didn't even think of that! This man was genius. "Well, yes, thank you."
"Here."
"Thank you. But I also mean, how do you get to know him, like from whom you-"
"Another testimony, huh? I get his contact from a friend who got back some precious items which was stolen, and he got recommendation from someone who found back a missing person. Don't ask me the details, though."
"No, no. That's very helpful. Thank you so much."
"Well then. I have to get going. If you'll excuse me."
"Of course. Thank you so much, Sir. Have a nice day."
That was. Not an answer. Just more questions.
Was Malfoy helping muggle by breaking magical law?
Was he in some sort of gangster which principle was 'Do It Like Robin Hood' or something?
Why did he do this kind of job?
Harry had realized since the first time, that if he wanted to figure Malfoy out, it wasn't going to be easy. But he didn't realize that this was going to take all his annual leaves, maybe more.
**
"Draco, can we buy groceries tomorrow?" Greg asked from in front of the fridge. "We almost run out of vegetables."
"I'm sorry. I don't get any job today."
"That's okay Draco. We still have some foods left."
"Pansy?"
"Still get two hundred pages to translate."
"Going to take a while, then. I'm really sorry I can't find any job recently."
Greg crouched and squatted down. "I'm sorry I'm the most useless person here-"
"Hey!"
"I can't contribute much-"
"Greg stop-"
"I'm just a burden-"
"Greg," Draco squatted in front of Greg, mirroring him. "Do you think without you, Pansy and I could survive living without screaming matches? No way. Without you we could live with any semblance of organized life? Nope. Do you-"
"I'm no better than-"
"Do you think that we could survive living without your gifted cooking skill? No chance. Pansy and I will end up dying from all the greasy, unhealthy take-away. I don't know how you can make a simple egg and vegetables taste so delicious, but I'd build you a restaurant if I could."
"Really?"
"Really. People would have to queue to get a dish."
"I wouldn't know that I can cook without you."
Draco grinned. "Then we safe each other, yeah?"
**
"Oh."
Harry figured out why Malfoy had to do his Drake Malf job.
The fare for a freelance worker without any degree was insufficient to cover his daily need.
When Harry found out Malfoy took a part time job as a shop clerk, he was relieved. Maybe Malfoy stopped his grey job now. By the time his shift ended and he went to another shop, Harry started to get confused. Was he really asking for another job?
By the time Malfoy went home with dozens of unfolded boxes for pizza and take away, Harry started feeling dread.
And by the time Harry looked on from a distance, Invisibility Cloak on, and found that a guy and a girl, Gregory Goyle and Pansy Parkinson waited for him, hugged him, smacked him roughly, and ushered him to come inside his -their- dingy flat, Harry realized what this was all about.
Oh, Drake Malf...
That name and that person brought back something long lost in Harry. Long forgotten comprehension that life wasn't always black or white. Long forgotten sensation of believing, even more amazing that the trust was well placed. Long forgotten feeling of hope, and how warm it was when blooming.
**
The old couple looked like they had difficulty to walk across the road. Understandable, because they chose the busiest hours of traffic and very crowded crosswalk to walk by.
They laughed when they decided they should wait, wait for the commuters to diminish a bit.
They looked happy. Draco couldn't help but imagining that expression on his Mother and Father.
Draco scoffed. They wouldn't ever be so blatant.
"Sir, Ma'am, do you need to go somewhere?"
They turned around. Father's eyes wouldn't ever be as welcoming, Mother's smile wouldn't ever be as wide, but Draco remembered that once, their love was this apparent. Maybe someday, even without Draco on their side, their love could be this apparent again.
**
“Cookies, Sir?”
“Huh?” Harry raised his head pathetically. Here he was, sitting alone, thinking all the troubles he dug for himself. Because no, he didn’t know how to feel about a petty criminal who willingly helped an elderly couple walked across a street, who took random jobs to make a living for him and his friends, who smiled charmingly to his clients.
Okay, he actually knew, but he really really didn’t want to admit it.
“Do you want to buy some cookies? It’s homemade, my mother baked it, I help selling it.” The girl gestured to the jars of cookies in her bike basket.
“No, thanks. I’m-“
“It’s actually delicious. Do you want a try?”
Harry had to remind himself that this is a muggle girl, who had no idea who he was, and there was no reason for him to be afraid of the cookies being poisoned or anything like that.
He took one and broke it in half.
“For you.”
The girl seemed a little shocked, also a little happy. She munched hers. Harry observed. She was fine.
Harry felt bad for being so suspicious.
And the cookie was delicious.
“I’ll buy it all.”
“Really?”
“Or I shouldn’t?”
“No, no! I mean, thank you so much, Sir!”
Harry nodded.
She gasped as she took the money. “Sir, this is too much.”
“No problem, what’s your name?”
“Cara.”
“Cara.”
“But, I… are you sure? This can be a prepay and I’ll bring you twenty jars tomorrow…”
“No, thanks. I’ll finish this first-“ and Harry was suddenly struck with an idea he briefly wondered if he was actually a genius. “Actually if you’re okay with this, can I ask you a favour?”
**
“No way!” Draco threw the wallet on the table as soon as he opened it.
“What? Why?” the teenage girl, Cara, frowned.
“You’ve already opened it, haven’t you? So you know who it belongs to.”
“And?”
“I can’t find the owner to meet you, like you asked.”
“You’ve found missing persons before, Mr. Drake Malf. I’ve heard stories.”
“Yes, but I won’t go around looking for him.”
“Why? Do you know him?”
“Unfortunately.”
Cara seemed like holding a laugh. “How could you say that?”
"None of your business."
"We're literally talking about the same man. Maybe it's my business."
“We shouldn't even be talking anymore. I can't look for this guy!”
“Really? Just like that? I'm sorry, it's just... By the stories I've heard, you have one hundred percent solved case from your clients. I have high hopes in contacting you.”
“You don't know what you're asking of me with this unmentionable request.”
"Unmentionable? Finding the owner of a wallet is unmentionable?"
Why was she so unrelenting? This was getting out of hand! “The owner is the bane of my existence. If I meet him, I’m doomed.”
“He seemed like a nice guy.”
“World is full of deception.” Draco inwardly cringed. Ironic, he said that sentence. Really.
“No, he’s really nice. He helped me once. That’s actually why I have his wallet, he bought all my cookies. He must forget it when he took the jars out of my bike basket.”
“Well, if he’s really nice, maybe he purposely gave that wallet to you.”
“Along with his ID card, a ring, and all other cards? I doubt it.”
Draco couldn’t help opened the damn wallet again. Right, a ‘To My Lily’ ring. Draco doubted Potter would throw away a family heirloom purposely like that. And what kind of moron someone was, to save a ring inside a wallet? And bring cash to this amount in one wallet? Ridiculous.
“I’ve already tried going to the address in the ID card. The neighbors said the owner only comes once a year. I’ve also tried going back to the place I met him several times, but he’s never there.”
“Make an ad or something.”
“Too much hassle.”
“You know, there’s a lot of money in there. Why don’t you just take it?”
Wonderfully, this Cara girl was not offended. “He’s already helped me. It would be so wrong if I also took his money.”
“Your moral standard is appalling.”
She was actually laughing now. “How can you say that?”
Draco chose to focus on his fate. “This is the worst case I’ve ever been asked. I can’t believe I have to refuse a job.”
“You never refused a job before?”
“Not if I can help it. This fieldwork is not the most stable, the chances I get offered a job is sporadic. And I need money, you know.”
“Then you shouldn’t refuse this job. I’ve been told you’re the best private investigator around here-”
Private Investigator… that actually sounded good. Much better than Con-Man-Detective-with-a-little-of-Magical-Law-Breaking.
“-not to mention the only one. And you’ve already known him. I’m sure you can find Mr. Potter.”
“How much will you pay me?”
“Uh… uhm…” for once, she had no answer. “I’m sure he’ll give you some rewards once we three meet? I mean, you help him get his wallet back.”
Oh Merlin. She really had no idea what she asked for. For Draco to find Harry Potter, the ultimate number one person Draco didn't want to meet from Wizarding World. Then, Potter, an Auror who likely hated every criminal -especially ex-Death Eater- being reminded of Draco's existence, would look for every detail of Draco's mistakes, and then found out how many times Draco broke the Statute of Secrecy by using magic in muggle area -surreptitiously-, would arrest him on the spot.
Just great.
“Two conditions.”
Cara grinned. “You really won’t refuse a job if you can help it, will you?”
“I won’t give you any proof that I’ve returned the wallet to him.”
“What?” The girl’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry, then how-“
“I’ll take the wallet, find the man, give it back to him, and if he’s amenable, you’ll be meeting him.”
“But if he isn’t?”
“Then you’ll have to take my word, whether I’ve already given the wallet back or not.”
“That’s… hardly ideal.”
“I know. I really wish I can easily refuse this job.”
“Oh, then… Then how can you receive your payment? I mean…”
“Not for you to worry. Condition number two, if he decides to meet you, you won’t tell him anything about me.”
“Are you serious? How can I explain-“
“That you hire a Private Investigator. No more, no less. Deal?”
“But-“
“Deal?”
Cara sighed. “I really don’t think this is a good idea-“
“You can just make an ad-“
Cara pouted. “Yes, deal.”
Draco grinned. "I'll send you the contract." He called the waiter, pulled several pounds to cover both the bill and tips from Potter’s wallet, and stood up to get out of there as fast as possible.
“But… that’s Mr. Potter’s money…”
“He won’t mind, he’s rich.”
The girl tried to cover a laugh. “I see what you mean about your moral standard.”
Draco glared.
**
“And you take the job?” Pansy screeched.
“Don’t make me regret it.”
“What the heck! Are you moron? Potter’s an Auror! You can get caught!”
“I’ll think of something-“
“Like what? Tracking where he lives? One thing: Needs magic. Looking for some Potter fans to deliver it to him? Also needs magic. Sending it directly to his office? NEEDS MAGIC. What were you thinking, bring that thing to him from muggle world to wizarding world while pretending not using magic?”
“The girl reminds me of you.”
Pansy’s face fell.
“You find a new best friend, then?”
“What? No!” Draco pulled Pansy to sit. “I only met her this morning. She’s a client, she doesn’t know a thing about me.”
“But you said-“
“Yes, she reminds me of you. Unrelenting, won’t simply take no for an answer. Won’t take any nonsense I said seriously, unless it comes with a little bit honesty.” Draco chuckled. “I don’t know how you do that, breaking up the persona I put on, making me an honest man to you… Merlin, how I fell hard for you back then…”
“You broke me apart with your distance and mystery that year…”
“I broke apart that summer, knowing I had to break up with you once school started…”
“Why aren’t we getting back together?”
Draco smiled. “Why, indeed?”
Pansy scoffed. “Our naivety gone.”
Draco grinned. Pansy being honest with him was a privilege by itself. Like her depression wasn’t actually affecting her, when she was with Draco and Greg. Like her staying with them was one hundred percent her choice, while actually forty percent of it was because she was too afraid to go outside and face anyone that she barely left this flat at all.
**
The sun had set when Harry arrived at Grimmauld Place. He didn’t realize he missed his friends so much until now, after everyone took a spontaneous gathering in Ron and Hermione’s place. Ginny and Neville’s bickering over Quidditch versus Plant (how that topic could turn to be argumentative, Harry couldn’t understand), Ron and Hermione’s bickering about which side to support, Seamus and Dean’s mischievous commentary and hectic ruckus -and quick pecks-, Luna and Rolf’s quirky insights… He’d taken for granted their meetings, always tried to avoid big gatherings and choose to attend the private ones. Always felt a little insecure about why he was the only one who hadn’t found love… and now…
And now, somehow he was okay.
Somehow, he was freer.
Somehow it felt okay when Seamus carelessly said that Harry looked happier. It felt fine when Ginny asked scandalously if he ‘Met someone?’, and Harry replied ‘No!’, and Ron coughed ‘Malfoy’, and the rest of them yelled ‘What?!’ and Hermione slapped herself on the forehead ‘I can’t believe I didn’t realize it.’
The blush on his cheeks felt okay too, also the warm feeling in his chest.
“Master Harry?”
“Yes Kreacher?”
“There a package for Master Harry. Kreacher put it on Master work table.”
“From?”
“From Tibby from Pokua from Lalue from Jokui from some wizard who kindly offered Jokui a chocolate biscuit to give this to Master Harry.”
Who? “Thank you Kreacher.”
Harry ran diagnostic spells, and nothing harmful was in the package. He carefully opened it.
His wallet.
In a better condition.
As he opened his wallet, a paper slipped out.
“The amount of money which isn’t there is the cost of returning it.
Ps: If possible, meet a girl named Cara this Sunday at 11.00 AM by the porch of Harrison Park, where you bought ridiculous amount of cookies two weeks ago.”
Everything was there. Except there was only twenty pounds left.
Harry laughed for a long time.
**
It felt like spring air blessed him with every steps Harry took. He really really felt good. Daring, reckless, energetic, optimistic…
The bell sounded like blissful music in Harry’s ear as he stepped in. This café started it all, and since Harry needed all his luck for what he was about to do, this place felt like the best place.
Harry tried to calm his racing heart as he took the best seat to observe entering customers, took out a book as he sat, and waited.
And it was fine, that he was repeatedly glancing at the clock as each second felt like dragging by. It was fine, really, that he couldn’t stop his foot from making jittery little bounces. Everything was fine.
Everything was more than fine, when Draco Malfoy finally entered the café, compelling aura around him, with no disguise at all.
Harry might as well being punched in the gut and given the freshest air to breathe simultaneously. Malfoy was gorgeous.
And it was okay if he looked a little bit weird, trying to walk as casually as possible, bringing his book with him, throwing his half full tea to nearest bin, just to queue behind Malfoy. It was okay that Malfoy smelled so nice, not like Harry was affected or something.
And it was very good that luck was with him this time, as Malfoy chose to dine in and then quietly went to a table near window.
With his own dine in order, he casually, casually, walked up to Malfoy’s table. “May I sit here?”
Malfoy glanced up at him, then to empty tables behind Harry. He seemed surprised and confused but politely answered, “Of course. Have a seat.”
Malfoy barely looked at him as Harry sat. Good for Harry, he could observe Malfoy calmly while reading. No one could notice Harry’s giddiness, right? Harry was calm.
Okay, what was Harry’s plan again? Oh damn he started to think this was a bad plan. Came up to Malfoy, asked if he wanted to accompany Harry for a walk, caught up and made friendly conversation, convinced him that Harry was no longer hostile, suggested that maybe they could be friends, and if Harry was lucky he could also give a hint that Harry was interested -ugh-, all the while pretending that Harry didn’t spy on him and know anything about him at all?
Really bad plan.
“Alright,” Malfoy said, as he caught Harry glancing for the third time. “What can I help you?”
Screw his plan. Time to wing it. Harry was going to botch it up anyway. “Do you really not remember me?”
Harry bit his lip, refraining himself from grinning widely as Malfoy analyzed him through Harry’s glamour. It was not until Malfoy stared at Harry right in the eyes when Malfoy jerked back.
“Potter?”
Harry chuckled, bright and free and happy.
**
Epilogue
“Ron, you have to help me.”
“What is it mate?”
“By the end of this weekend, you have to say to Draco that if Draco and I are to be married, you have to be my best man.”
“WHAT?”
“I’ve already been dropping hints for months, yet he won’t even talk about proposal to me-
"Oh Merlin help me..."
"I mean, I had to keep bothering him until he said 'fine' to a ‘friendly chat’. Kept popping in to his regular places until he agreed to a date. Kept dropping non subtle hints until he asked me to be his boyfriend. He definitely needs stronger hints.”
“I give up!"
"Ron! I'm having crisis here!"
"Harry, just... Can't you have a good scheming idea for once in your life?“
**