alisanne

Title: A Christmas Wish - Part Twelve
Author:

alisanne
Prompt used:

slythindor100's 2013 Christmas prompt #8: Nighttime skating rink.
Word Count: 550
Rating: PG
Warning: EWE, AU.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Notes: Thanks to

sevfan and

emynn for the beta. This is part twelve in my Christmas Wish Series.
Previous parts are: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, and Eleven.

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A Christmas Wish - Part Twelve

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A problem? Draco thought, struggling to regain his wits after the bombshell Potter had dropped. More like a fantasy come true. But then, reality intruded. Oh, who am I kidding? He’s Harry Potter. There’s no possibility that he could fancy a pathetic Death Eater--

Potter’s face had gone expressionless. “If you’d prefer, I can see you home and then have Hermione contact you in the morning if you’re uncomfortable to be seen walking with me--”

“What?” Draco blinked, focussing on Potter. “Why would I be uncomfortable?”

Flushing, Potter looked away. “Well, the Wizarding world does tend to be traditional about sexuality--”

Draco snorted. “I like tradition as well as the next bloke, but even I’m not that much of a hypocrite.”

Potter looked confused for a moment before his face cleared. “You mean you’re--?”

Draco inclined his head. “It’s certainly not something I publicise, but all my friends know I’m bent.”

“Oh.” Potter smiled faintly. “That’s something else we have in common, then.”

“Something else?” Draco asked, distracted by the odd light in Potter’s eyes.

Potter raised an eyebrow. “We’re both single.”

“Oh, right,” Draco replied, tone faint. “Of course.” Single and available.

“So, are you feeling all right?” Potter asked a moment later as they continued walking.

“I’m fine.” More than. “Why?”

Potter smiled. “You fainted earlier, remember? I’d rather not have that happen again.”

Draco huffed. “I was just hungry.”

Wisely, Potter didn’t say anything about his magical levels. “Okay, well there’s one more thing I’d like to show you if you’re up for it.”

“Lead the way,” said Draco. Oddly, his magical levels did seem fine, although he really had no way to track it. Usually by that point in a typical evening, however, he was exhausted and could barely crawl into bed. Apparently socialising with Potter is good for me.

Potter led him down a deserted alley, and just as Draco began wondering where exactly they were going, they emerged onto what looked like a park. In the centre was a skating rink with people circulating in groups and pairs. The trees around the pool were hung with fairy lights and to Draco it looked simply magical. Draco exhaled.

“Brilliant, isn’t it?” Potter murmured in his ear. “I love coming here and watching the people skate.”

“Watching?” Moved by a reckless impulse, Draco grasped Potter’s hand, pulling him towards the rink. “Please. Who wants to watch when they can do?”

“But--but--” Potter was laughing. “We don’t even have skates. We can’t--”

Draco raised an eyebrow. “No, but you have magic.”

Slowly, Potter grinned. “That’s very true.” Looking around, he spotted some twigs and, picking them up, surreptitiously Transfigured them into skates. “So, Malfoy,” he murmured, extending his hand. “Would you care to go skating with me?”

Speechless, Draco nodded, and as they took to the ice on their makeshift skates, he thought, Salazar, I’m in trouble. This is feeling more and more like a date every minute.

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