Chapter Text
Harry has no idea why the hell he's doing this.
Sure, he won the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor.
And sure, he was in love with Draco Malfoy, the only Slytherin Seeker who could've ever had a chance against him and the only Slytherin cheerleader who Harry drools over in the middle of games- Gryffindor games or not, the blond always had a bit of an effect on him.
But did he have to ask Draco out on a date?
Truth be told, no. No he did not.
But Harry won the very last Quidditch Cup he'll ever be able to win— in fact, he's won six consecutive Quidditch Cups, and that's if he includes third year when he faced off with Draco in the last match and nearly pissed his pants while admiring the Slytherin's side profile. He barely snapped out of his daze in time, but nobody ever has to know.
One would've thought that he mustered up enough courage to ask him out after winning then, but no. It took the seventh year 'Welcome Back Bitches' Inter-House party organized by Pansy Parkinson for him to agree to ask out his crush if he wins the Quidditch Cup. His crush who ever so happened to be her best-fucking-friend. And, ever since then, all of Harry's friends have been exaggerating how important it is that he wins the Cup. Not to mention his parents, who found out about the... dare and practically forced him to hear the story of how James had asked Lily out after winning the Quidditch Cup.
Harry shudders at the reminder.
He looks up, his eyes immediately catching the blond, who is currently talking and laughing with some of his friends. He sits elegantly at the Slytherin Table, his posture perfect and hair tied up into a perfect ponytail, with only a few strands of his bangs out of place. It doesn't affect how perfect Draco appears, and it sure as hell doesn't help Harry with the dire situation he's found himself in here.
"What are you waiting for?" Ginny Weasley drawls from next to him. Her hands rest easily on her hips, an eyebrow raised at Harry. "Go ask him."
"Gin, how can I?" Harry fumes. He gestures towards Draco, who is now playfully scolding Theodore Nott, like it was reason enough for his hesitation. And he was right. Draco is a good reason to hesitate. He's bloody perfect and Harry's... not exactly 'perfect'. "Just look at him."
"Yes, Harry, you love him and his blond hair very much—" Harry glared at her— "and we're very happy that you've gotten enough courage to even think of asking him. However, if you don't ask him soon, I fear someone else might," Hermione advises kindly. He turns his head and, sure enough, Ernie Macmillian was making his way over to Draco.
Something in-between of jealousy and rage pulsed through Harry's veins.
But, all traces of this red emotion disappears when Draco points in the direction of Padma Patil, who waves at Ernie excitedly, and Ernie bows his head in thanks and leaves without another glance back at the blond.
It was quickly replaced with a slight case of both anxiety and depression.
"What if he rejects me?" Harry groans, hitting his head on the table. Ron snorts, muttering something along the lines of 'moving on from him', which is an action that sort of pisses Harry off. "Oh, I'm sorry, Ron, but some people like people who are completely out of their league. Honestly, why couldn't I just like Ginny or... or Luna?"
"Then you would've been beaten by a Bludger," Ginny easily replies. She's always been very protective of her best friend. "Besides, that's just gross, Harry. In case you've forgotten, you're kind of my brother."
"I didn't forget," Harry snaps. He immediately softens and apologizes. "He's just out of my league, Gin. He's perfect and I'm... just Harry."
"Well, Mum and Dad didn't raise 'just' Harry," Hannah, Harry's sister, snickers. She takes a seat beside one of her friends, chewing on a baby carrot almost immediately. "Is he going to ask Draco Malfoy out?"
Harry groans. "Han, you knew too?"
"Literally, more than half of us knows," she claims, gesturing to the other half of the Gryffindor Table who whoops and shouts 'good lucks' towards him as proof. Harry's face flushes.
"Merlin. Do you think Draco knows?"
Hermione frowns. "Probably not. If I recall correctly, he's been rather busy with N.E.W.Ts and cheerleading practice."
"Great, so he probably doesn't even think about me," Harry wails.
"Mate, you're just as dramatic as him," Ron says.
"I think you should go for it!" Luna, ever the enthusiast, encourages. "I think Draco has been the most interested in your 'crush' since you announced that you had one. Dabberblimps appeared by his ears whenever someone teased you about it, which I still think is very rude of them."
Harry smiles weakly. "Thanks, Luna." Then he takes a deep breath. "What could I even say?"
"Ask him out to Hogsmeade," Hannah advises. Harry doesn't know when his sister was asked out to Hogsmeade, but he promises to himself that he will find the bastard.
"Make sure to mention how he's the crush," Hermione adds. "Who knows if he's even realized that?"
"While you're at it, ask him what Macmillian wanted," Ron continues. When Harry sends him a look, Ron raises his hands. "Conversation starter, mate."
Taking another deep breath, Harry agreed. He'll start with Macmillian, subtly let Draco know that Harry's interested in him, and then ask him out to Hogwarts. Which was... easier said than done.
"Don't worry too much about it," Ginny advises. "But, make sure he says yes. I'm betting twenty galleons on this thing. You can't get a 'no', you hear me?"
Harry's jaw drops. "Ginny!"
The Chaser simply giggles, shooing him away. Then, with more than thirty other Gryffindors egging him on, Harry stands up from his seat and makes his way to the Slytherin Table. Palms getting sweatier with every step, it was a miracle that Harry didn't chicken out before reaching the Slytherin table.
"Harry," Draco calls all of a sudden, his voice sweet like honey. "What are you doing here?"
Merlin, his eyes are so beautifully silver.
"I need to talk to you," Harry mutters, his hands clenched into tight fists.
Draco cocks his head to the right. "About?"
Harry glances at the blond's friends— Pansy, in particular, is excitedly shaking his hands and trying not to squeal— because they're openly staring at him with open jaws. Merlin, they obviously know. So...
"I think you already know, Draco."
Draco looks at his friends, who immediately begin putting on the best act Harry's ever seen. Each one of them has a perfect facade on, raising an eyebrow as if they were disinterested. After several long moments of staring at them, Draco stands up. "Very well. Let's go."
"No... no, actually it's alright if I talk to you here," Harry decides, his inside Gryffindor bravery takes hold of him. Draco stops, his eyes narrowing and piercing into Harry's very soul. "I was wondering what you were talking with Macmillian about?"
Before Draco could respond, Blaise pipes up. "Jealous?"
So, obviously, that was the wrong route to go to. Harry should've thought twice about taking Ron's advice.
"Er, no. I was just curious," Harry says. When several seconds go by without anyone else speaking, he clears his throat. "So you know how I was supposed to ask the person I liked out if I won the Quidditch Cup?"
Draco raises an eyebrow. "Sorry, Harry. I'm afraid I don't have much advice for you if that's what you're really here for—"
"Doyouwannagoonadatewithme?" Harry blurts.
Theo whistles. Pansy cheers. Slytherin and Gryffindor alike collectively shout and throws galleons towards the others' tables. No worries, no Hufflepuffs are hurt in this uproar. In fact, several throw wizard currency themselves.
"What?" Draco blinks. "I don't think I heard you correctly."
Harry steadies himself for the hex that's about to come his way. "Go on a date with me?" he asks meekly.
Draco's cheeks flush, and Pansy starts excitedly stabbing his side.
"Is this some sort of prank?"
That is not the reaction Harry expected.
"What? No! Why would you think that?"
"So I'm..." Draco swallows. "I'm that 'crush'?" he squeaks.
Probably terrified that he might mess this up even further, Harry simply nods.
Draco just continues staring at him.
"Well, what are you waiting for, you idiot?" Pansy whisper-shouts. It's loud enough for Harry to hear and feel the disappointment beginning to pool in his abdomen. "He's waiting for you!"
"O-oh," Draco stutters. Then he looks up at Harry with those long lashes and nods slightly. "Okay."
Harry's eyes widen. "Really?!"
"Yes," Draco says.
After letting him know the time and the place they were going to meet, Harry stays in a good mood for the rest of the day.
And not even the exchange of coins— between Slytherins and Gryffindors especially— in the Great Hall could damper it.