♕ nineteen

★ ☆ ✮ ✯ 

 "Who am I helping today?" asked the assistant at the front desk. Blaise, Harry, and Neville all pointed to Draco.

"Oh, well then... you can follow me," she said rather flirtatiously. Draco grimaced and followed her cautiously into the back  of the store, where a mirror and platform had already been set-up.

"Here, let me help y-"

Draco shook his head vigorously as the assistant tried to help him onto the pedestal.

"I can walk by myself, thanks."

She looked slightly offended but seemed to shake his comment away, as she made her way to the backroom.

Draco heard Blaise, Harry, and Neville chuckling behind them.

"What?" he asked, exasperated. It was going to be a long hour.

The boys said nothing, as they noted Draco's agitation towards the flirtatious assistant. 

"Let's try this one..."

The assistant began to bring out tux after tux as Blaise, Harry, and Neville rejected them one by one, commenting on the "poor tailoring" and "undesirable fit." Some Draco had to forcibly refuse, such as a canary yellow suit that Blaise tried to force him into.

But soon, Draco found what he desired; a grey vest and blazer, with matching pants and a white collared undershirt. Neville selected a light grey tie for him to wear; within three minutes Draco was in and out of the suit as the assistant took it up to be paid for. Meanwhile, Harry and Blaise shared a good laugh as they imagined Draco in the yellow tux.

"I swear, that thing was foul!" Draco exclaimed. Harry shook his head.

"Pity we didn't get a chance to see you in it. Would've matched your hair, I think?"

"Yes," Blaise agreed, "You'd be the best-dressed guy at the dance."

"Envied by all, for certain," Neville added. Draco rolled his eyes.

"You'd give Big Bird a run for his money-"

"Shove it, Blaise," Draco growled, punching his friend lightly.

"Hey," said Harry, suddenly serious. "Neville, Blaise... could you go and get us some butterbeers from the Leaky Cauldron? I'm parched."

Blaise and Neville shared a surprised look, but agreed to go fetch the drinks. And although Draco was feeling slightly nervous at the prospect of being left alone with Harry, he too was craving a butterbeer.

As soon as the door swung shut with a cheery ring of the bell, Harry turned to Draco.

"So," he began, taking a seat in the seat across from him. "How are you and Hermione doing?"

He had been expecting this.

"She's good," Draco said nervously, stepping down from the platform and taking a seat on the edge.

Harry gave him an encouraging nod, so Draco continued.

"She's really turned things around for me, mate. I know we've all had our differences in the past, but she was the first person to really take a chance on me this year. And every single day I care for her more and more."

Harry nodded. "That's good, good..."

Suddenly, the neutral conversation took a slight turn as Harry's mouth set into a firm line.

"If you ever hurt her, if you ever break her heart... you're dead."

Draco looked up in surprise.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Potter, I would never-"

"You can't deny that your reputation precedes you," Harry interrupted, his voice dangerously low. Draco gulped and felt his cheeks flush with shame. 

Harry continued. 

"She was really hurt after everything with Ron, and I know it took a lot for her to let herself open up again. I will support you and Hermione with everything that I am, Do I make myself clear?"

Draco nodded firmly. He didn't have to worry about Harry's threat because never, never in a million years, would he even dream of hurting Hermione. As long as he was breathing, he would never hurt her.

"Alright," said Harry, exhaling, seeming slightly relieved. "Sorry, mate, just had to make sure you were genuine."

Draco nodded, understanding. "Don't worry, I won't repeat Ron's actions. He let her go. I'm not going to be that stupid. 

Harry nodded approvingly.

"So we're good?" Draco asked hesitantly. Harry shot him a grin and held out his hand, which Draco shook heartily. Who would have thought that he and Harry Potter would be friends?

But their cheery mood was dampened quite drastically when the door opened once more as Blaise and Neville entered, butterbeer sloshing around in four glasses and eyes wide with fear. Draco and Harry stood to face them.

"Sh-she-she's here," Neville stammered. "M-must've, must've followed us-"

"Who followed us?" Harry demanded. Draco turned to Blaise for an answer, but he didn't seem in a much better state. Blaise was stammering gibberish as the butterbeer glasses shook violently in his hands.

"Who followed us, Neville?!!" Harry asked again, more forcefully.

Neville's voice shook.

"She did. S-she followed us. P-Professor McGonagall!"

★ ☆ ✮ ✯