"Harry are you coming with us mate?," Ron asked, hand placed gently on Harry's shoulder.

Harry rolled over, folding his pillow over his face.

"You used to love going to Hogsmeade."

"Used to being the key words Ron."

"Did you tell him Malfoy's going?," Hermione asked, popping her head into the doorway.

"Malfoy's going?," Harry asked curiously, removing the pillow.

"He is. Just confirmed it with him. Thought it'd be nice to invite him out."

"I hate you both."

"See you soon Harry," Ron replied happily, tussling Harry's hair.

Harry grumbled to himself the whole time he was getting ready. He knew he was being set up, but he couldn't leave Draco alone.

Draco however, was having the same feelings about Harry. He knew how Harry got, and he didn't want him to be a third wheel to Ron and Hermione, which was much worse than just going alone. He was surprised Harry had even agreed to go, and a little hurt that Harry didn't ask him himself, but perhaps it was a pride thing.

Still, Draco obsessed over every  last detail of what he was wearing to the way that his hair fell. He needed to look perfect.

"Ready to go?," Hermione greeted him.

"As ready as I can be Granger. Where's Potter?"

"Right here. Let's get this over with," Harry grumbled.

Draco raised an eyebrow in confusion, about to ask why he was being like that when Hermione quickly ushered him out the door, talking about their arithmancy homework.

They were almost at Hogsmeade when Draco was finally able to shake her free, and fall into step beside Harry.

"I can't believe you wanted to go," Harry murmured.

"Did you not want me to come?," Draco asked, pushing away the feeling of hurt he had no right to feel.

"What? I only came because Ron said you were going. I had no plans on coming at all."

"Granger..."

Both Draco and Harry fixed the couple in front of them with glares so powerful, anyone walking near them quickly gave them their space.

"Oh enough! You both needed to get out," Hermione chided.

"I wouldn't have picked here of all places. I would have picked a nice muggle location where no one knows us."

Hermione was shocked into silence, opening and closing her mouth a few times.

"There is a brain in that pretty head of yours," Draco murmured, bumping Harry's hip with his own.

"Just stay close, yeah?," Harry replied quietly.

"I don't need protecting."

"Maybe I do."

The first place the four of them went was Honeydukes. The chatter stopped as soon as they walked in. The praises stopped short as soon as eyes fell to Malfoy.

"What do you want?," Harry asked him, ignoring the eyes.

"Dark chocolate frogs? Maybe some sugar quills for you since you keep chewing on yours."

"Yeah, that's fair," Harry replied with a laugh.

Harry essentially ignored everyone but Draco. Ron and Hermione left them soon afterwards, only further irritating Harry.

"We should go somewhere else," Harry whispered in Draco's ear.

"I just want to pick up some more stationary first."

Harry held the door open for Draco, and caught the beginning of a sentence that immediately ceased to be spoken as soon as he entered the store.

"We don't serve death-"

The woman at the counter stopped talking when Harry led Draco inside, hand placed protectively on the small of his back.

"Stationary?," Harry asked cheerily.

There was harsh whispering coming from the front of the store, and Harry was palming his wand in his pocket.

"Are you okay?"

"No. I hate being here. I know they were trying to help, but I feel exposed. I can feel their eyes."

"I'll be quick."

Draco grabbed what he needed and they made their way to make their purchases. Harry's eyes were trained on the older woman at the back of the counter looking skittish. He could feel that his knuckles were white from clutching his wand. As soon as he saw the woman at the counter take out her wand, it was immediately in Harry's hand, his wand trained on the older woman.

"We just wanted to cast finite incantatem!"

"Why the hell would you need to do that?!"

"You're with him," the old woman spat.

"I'm in a store, with my friend, giving you our business. We won't make the same mistake twice. I'm going to give you your wand when we're at the door. Draco, after you."

Draco did as told, too stunned to speak.

"You have a lot of nerve, threatening a free man. Emphasis on the word free. You have the right to refuse anyone business, but you do not have the right to point your wand at anyone. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir."

Harry threw the wand and was seething when they stepped out to a slew of cameras. Draco grabbed onto Harry's wrist in fear. He felt a rush of magic and clutched Harry tighter.

"I'll protect you," Harry promised.

Draco didn't doubt him for a second. 

"Harry, what are you doing with a death eater?"

"Mr. Potter a word?"

"Why are you with Draco Malfoy?"

"Harry Potter a statement please?"

"I'll give you a statement," Harry said suddenly, tone icy. "The war is over. Those deserving of sentences received them. Get on with your lives and get over yourselves."

Harry ushered Draco away, zigzagging through people.

"Can you run?"

"I can."

Draco accepted the offered hand and they ran, ducking between the trees. Harry stopped them suddenly, pulled Draco incredibly close, and threw the invisibility cloak around them. He then cast silencing and privacy charms before sighing in relief.

"I'm so sorry, Malfoy. You didn't deserve that."

"Maybe I do," he exhaled.

"If you did, I would have had you put away with everyone else."

They stood in silence as they watched people come and go, before Harry deemed it safe.

"Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe."

Draco didn't realize just how much he trusted Harry, but apparently that trust included following him into a haunted building.

"The shrieking shack?"

"It's safe here. Not haunted, either. Not anymore."

"It's clean."

"I spend time here sometimes. I try to keep up with the cleaning charms."

Harry sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Draco sat tentatively next to him.

"I'm sorry that you had to experience that," Harry said sincerely.

"I should've known today wouldn't be any different. It's not your fault."

"It's a lot of big talk from adults who let children fight a war and die for them. We fought. What do they do? They stalk people and invade their privacy for a living. We're better than them."

"Thanks for getting me out of there."

"I'm sorry you were manipulated into coming."

"You know, I was actually offended you hadn't asked me yourself, but I get it now. We were both played against the other."

"I'm glad that I was here for you. Do you want to do something at some point that isn't horrible?"

"You have such low standards," Draco replied with a laugh.

"Oh you have no idea. I can defeat dark wizards but the minute someone shows me basic kindness? I don't know how to react."

"I should've given you the flowers in person. I'll have to try harder."

"I don't need anything."

"Just because you don't need something doesn't mean it isn't nice to have."

"I've never had the luxury."

"Just you wait, you'll be eating your words Potter."

"I'd rather be eating some chocolate."

"Chocolate frog or peppermint toads?"

"Peppermint toads."

They somehow finished the whole box, flinging the toads into each other's mouths as they processed the day's events. Sitting in comfortable silence, Harry felt his head begin to drop.

"Tired Potter?"

"Not tired, just drained."

"Do you want to head back?"

"Not really if I'm being honest."

"What are you thinking about?"

Draco was curious, he couldn't help it.

"Wondering how quickly this is going to make it into the Prophet. Wondering what would happen if I just left Hogwarts one day and didn't go back. Wishing I bought more peppermint toads. All kinds of things going on up here."

"I think you need to rest. That was a lot of magic at once. Come on."

"Oh, we're not going out that way."

"How else would we go other than the door?"

"This other door of course."

"I thought I knew most of the secret passages!"

"We should compare notes," Harry teased with a grin.

"I might like that."

"Whenever you can't sleep, you know where to find me."

"Actually, you always know where to find me. But I suppose I can add here to my list."

"Then I guess I have to teach you the spell to get past the whomping willow."

"Never a dull day with you is there Potter?"

"A blessing and a curse," Harry replied with a soft smile.

Draco felt the same way with how much time they've been spending together.