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They were at a ministry ball, it was the third year anniversary of the war, and although Draco would much rather be at home drinking himself into a hole, he was here. Standing around, watching people chat and hug and get teary eyed.
Draco was standing alone against the wall. Against his better judgment his eyes were following Harry Potter around the dance floor, how he was swinging around Ginevra Weasley in his arms, smiling like there wasn’t anyone else in the room.
The way her hair flowed around, how he had a smile and his eyes were bright. Something about all of it made Draco entirely sick to his stomach. And to think he had only had one glass of Champaign.
He looked away from Potter and instead looked over to Granger and Weasley who were stood on the other end of the dance floor talking with the Minister. He must’ve looked over at the worse time however because Weasley looked over to him, the pair locking eyes before Draco could look away.
He made a polite exit from his conversation, gave Granger a kiss on the cheek, and headed over to Draco, picking up a glass of champaign on his way. “You looked lonely.” He told him as he handed him the glass which he gladly took.
“So you thought you’d come and keep my company?” It’s not like him and Weasley were friends. Or had ever had a civil conversation. Why start now?
“You’re subtle Malfoy, I’ll give you that. But you seriously didn’t expect me to notice?”
“I haven’t the fantest idea what you’re talking about.” He responded, and he didn’t.
“Does it hurt?” He asked quietly taking a sip of his own drink -beer-, “Seeing them together dancing like that.”
“I-“ The blond started but Weasley cut him off.
“Please you can’t keep your eyes off of him. And I know my best mate, he spent years watching you too.”
Draco thought about it for a moment. Of course it hurt watching the man he loves dance around a room full of people showing his love for another. Smiling and not having a care in the world.
“Unendurably.” Draco answered not daring to look at the man. He knew all he would find on his face was pity and the last person Draco wanted pity form was Ronald sodding Weasley. “Why are you asking? It’s not as though we’re friends.”
This time Draco did look over to Ron who has a half grin on his face. “The thing is, when you’re not looking at him, he’s looking over to you. That’s why I looked over at you a minute ago, because I was following Harry’s eyes. Just between you and me, him and Ginny broke up months ago he just wasn’t ready to announce it to the wizarding world yet.” Weasley took another swig of his beer before continuing, “We’re not friends no, but I imagine with the way that Harry keeps looking at you, and you keep looking at him that we will have to be, for his sake.”
While Weasley had been saying all this Draco ended up sneaking another glance over at Potter and sure enough, when the other man didn’t think Draco was looking, he himself had his eyes glued to him. His head never turning from Ginevra but his eyes always staring at the blond.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I saw how you’re looking at him. There’s no doubt about how you feel. And I know Harry, I know that once he has his heart set on something he’s going to go for it, and I also know that by starting off being the bigger person or whatever will help tell Harry that I’m okay with it. Even if you were a complete cock to us in school, I know you’ve changed since then, hell we all have. So I’m taking the first step for him y’know?”
And Draco did know. He knew exactly what Weasley was doing and he couldn’t help the gratitude that flowed through him about it. He turned his full attention back to Weasley, “Thank you.”
“No problem farrett. Now prepare because Harry’s coming over here.”
“What-“ Draco was caught off guard and turned back towards Harry who was indeed only a few metres away.
“Ron, Malfoy. Strange seeing you two talking.” Potter said with a funny look on his face.
“Not strange at all mate, now by the holes I’m feeling in the side of my head Hermione is looking for me to come save her so I shall make an exit. You two have fun.” Weasley replied before he winked, WINKED at Draco and headed off.
“Potter.” Draco nodded, not entirely knowing where to start.
“Malfoy.”
“Nice dancing out there.” Draco started, trying to sound casual.
“Yeah?” Potter answered, seemingly not entirely sure if Draco was being honest or about to tell a joke.
“Mmhm, much improved since the Yule ball. You didn’t even step on her feet once.” Draco gave him a small cheeky smile to let Potter know that he was just trying to be cheeky.
“Yeah that wasn’t exactly my greatest moment huh? Poor Parvati deserved much better.”
“She did indeed.”
“I don’t know why Ron and I didn’t just go together as mates. Looking back it makes perfect sense.”
“Yes but then there would be the question of which of you would lead?”
“Oh Ron definitely. You probably couldn’t tell but Ginny was the one leading out there also. They’re surprisingly good dancers the lot of them. You should see a wedding, an ocean of red hair all doing the most majestic dancing you will ever see.”
“Sound like it would rival one of the balls my parents used to put on when I was a kid. There were a horribly formal event not entirely unlike this one where people would talk small and just try and make connections with one another. My mother loved them though which I think is why my father was always letting her throw them.”
“That sounds exactly like this yeah, although if I’m being honest it almost sounds better. I hate this place I don’t know why I always come to these things. Actually no I do know, it’s because Kingsley always asks me to come and do a speech. I always say no about the speech but I do come, to show my support or whatever. I have a problem saying no to things I think.” Potter confessed.
“Oh they were definitley much better, people would dress better for a start. But also but he time it hit around 9pm my mother would take a couple of minutes to properly put me to bed, kiss me goodnight and promise that tomorrow in the morning we could have crepes -my favourite- to make up for any noise that I may hear or disturbances that could be called by the manor being filled with hundreds of people.
“And as I got older and she stopped doing that, she would hound me to show up but would never question it when Pansy, Blaise, and I would disappear and go down to steal snacks form the elves. WE never called for them because we knew that they were incredibly busy, but they were always happy to give us extras.” Draco smiled at the memory.
“I’m sorry I never got to attend one.” Potter answered, taking Draco away from his thoughts and back into the present.
“Oh don’t Potter, you’ll attend one some day if I have anything to say about it.”
“And do you have anything to say about it?” Potter challenged, raising an eyebrow.
Draco licked his lips hungrily. If he thought that his eyes were bright because of Ginevra, they were now glittering looking at Draco, in a way that almost wasn’t possible. “Yeah, I think I do.”
“Well if you insist. Shall you give me a preview now?” Potter asked putting his hand out for Draco to take. After a moment of reflection, remembering how it was when he was eleven and Potter hadn’t taken his hand, Draco wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity.
He took the mans hand, “Lead the way, Potter.”
Potter dragged him onto the dance floor and the two spent the night dancing away, much to the shock of the public. Draco knew that they were going to end up being on the front page of the Prophet tomorrow, and some part of the back of his mind thought maybe he should warn his mother.
But then Potter looked at him like there was nothing else and no-one else and Draco forgot all about everything else.