Draco should have expected it to happen. He can't have a nice day without it blowing back up in his face. How could he and Potter possibly have been photographed getting ice cream?! Draco was no fool, he knew what it looked like, watching the moving photos of Harry stealing his ice cream, and then Harry wiping chocolate off of his face.

He couldn't even focus during work, worried what everyone would be saying. He wasn't surprised that Potter had wanted to see him, but he was surprised to see Potter during his lunch break of all things.

"I brought lunch?," Harry offered, awkwardly swaying in the doorway.

"Come in Potter. Let's get this over with."

"I'm sorry."

"Potter I should be the one apologizing. I've tarnished your image yet again."

"You think that's what I care about? I care about the absolute filth that they were saying about you in the paper. And the fact that they didn't blur out Teddy's face?! They'll be hearing from my legal team shortly, if they haven't already."

"You have a legal team?"

"Hermione's idea. I was against it at first, but they take care of a lot of issues I don't want to be bothered with. They'll be served a cease and desist because Teddy is a minor, and I had them throw some defamation claims in there too."

"Tell me how you really feel," Draco muttered, stabbing his salad.

"What? No not for me, for you! You're literally just minding your own business, helping people and saving lives. I know it wasn't easy for you but you're doing great things Malfoy. Being seen with me shouldn't negate all of the good that you've been doing."

"Thank you."

"I mean it. Working as a part time healer and potions master simultaneously is impressive as fuck."

"You're being too nice, it's making me uncomfortable," Draco said quietly, looking away as his face flushed.

"I should get going anyway. My lunch isn't for another hour."

"Did you just leave?!," Draco asked in shock, head snapping up.

"I told you, I wanted to check on you. I worry you know. Always have, always will. I'll see you this weekend though yeah?"

"Yeah," Draco confirmed, watching Harry leave, mind racing.

Nothing however, was worse than the wrath of Pansy Parkinson, who was waiting for Draco when he came home.

"Do you want to explain this?," she asked, throwing the paper at him.

"Potter and I are taking care of Teddy so that Aunt Andromeda can have a break. That's it."

"That cannot possibly be it, it looks like a date!"

"If that was a date he'll have to do better than that," Draco murmured. "He is a fantastic cook though."

"A home cooked meal and ice cream!," she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

"Yes, along with a child."

They were together when a new version of the day's paper came through, retracting everything they had said about Draco and issuing an apology.

"I'm calling it now, Potter has the hots for you. It's about time honestly."

"He does not!"

"You still have the hots for him!," she accused.

"Parkinson you cow get out of my house!"

"When do you see him next?"

"This weekend but- no."

"Oh darling we're going shopping immediately. Potter won't know what hit him."

"I'm not trying to seduce him!"

"You have pretty privilege Draco, you don't need to try."

"That's enough of you."

"You know I'm right, and if I'm not your maid of honor I'll kill you."

"Don't you have work to be doing?"

"Fine. If you won't come with me I'll send over some options. Ta ta darling."

"Pansy-"

"Are you ready to admit that you still have a hard on for Potter after all these years?"

"Why do you have to phrase it like that?," he asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Perhaps... there are feelings. Very small and almost nonexistent!"

"I knew it! They still exist!"

"I'm sure I'm just latching onto the first man to show me basic kindness, relax."

"It's more than a crush if it's lasted for so many years. But I'll drop it since you've finally admitted it. Let's go, we are going shopping."

Draco sighed, resigned to his fate.

"Don't fret darling, even I find him attractive now."

Snorting, Draco bumped his hip against Pansy's.

"You're buying me dinner after this. Drinks too."

And that is how Harry Potter arrived at Draco Malfoy's flat to find him lounging on the couch, slightly tipsy.

"Potter?"

"I'm glad you have the drinks covered, I brought dessert."

"What in Salazar's name for?"

"They're your favorite, and I'm sorry."

"My chocolate raspberry cake?," Draco asked, sitting up slowly.

"They are. Fresh out of the oven."

"Then I suppose I can let you feel sorry. I didn't even know you made those until Andy told me."

"Chocolate and fruit are one of my favorite pairings."

"Do you want to have one with me? This wine I'm drinking pairs perfectly."

"I don't want to intrude."

"You're already here," Draco replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

They sat in relative silence, Draco having had too much to drink to deal with the silence.

"How was work?," he asked.

"Oh, there was lots of talk today."

"Have a glass of my best wine to show you that I'm sorry."

"The rumor mill is truly spinning now."

Harry accepted the offered glass, and made himself more comfortable on the couch.

"Do tell."

"Where to start? We've eloped. We've been secret lovers for years. Teddy is being raised as some kind of secret assassin. And then there's the usual garbage spewed by the Prophet that I very quickly shut down. May have blown up some lights in the process, but that's neither here nor there."

"Ah, chivalry isn't dead. But you're not-," Draco waved his hand in the air.

"Aren't I? Who's to say?"

"Are you?," Draco asked, leaning forward. "You don't have to answer that, I've had a few glasses. Excuse me."

"I am. We're bound to be spending a lot of time together. I'm bisexual, I think. Haven't had much dating experience overall, or ever really, just Ginny, but that's been over for years."

"One of those married to your work types then?"

"Not by choice. I try, you know? To take days off and do things, but I'm almost always called in and called away from what I'm doing, so why try? I barely even get my designated days off."

"You said you have Wednesdays off?"

"I'm supposed to."

"I'll see you every Wednesday for dinner then."

"Malfoy-"

"You're more apt to stand up for yourself when you have plans and you're worried about letting someone down. We can use Wednesdays to plan out our weekends with Teddy, and discuss his school scheduling. I know that you take and pick him up on Wednesdays, and sporadically on the other days. Wednesdays will be our days to plan.

Most of my work is in potions research currently, I'm usually only called in as a healer for dire circumstances. I have a pager. I'll start working from home on Wednesdays consistently now that's all. I'm not in my office very much, I prefer to work from the comfort of my own home."

"Understandable. You're sure I won't be a bother?"

"Potter you're only a bother when you don't show. Don't stand me up, my time is very valuable. You should consider yourself lucky to be privy to so much of it."

"Believe me, I do. Goodnight Malfoy, I'll see you on Wednesday then."

"Goodnight Potter. Wednesday it is."

What he had done didn't hit Draco until the next morning. He blamed Pansy of course, and was hoping that he didn't ruin a good thing before it had started.

"I guess I'll find out on Wednesday," he said quietly.