The air was almost hazy with moisture, yellow light filtered through the old leaded glass and all around Harry was green and smelled like damp soil.

"I've almost finished," Neville said carefully maneuvering a floating plant the size of a bear to an isolated corner of the greenhouses. As the heavy ceramic pot bumped against the ground the curling branches writhed, grasping out at the open air. "There." Neville said with satisfaction, "Won't be causing any more trouble over here."

"What is it?" Harry asked, watching the plant stop moving and go back to looking as harmless as any other plant.

Neville carefully roped the plant off and hung a few warning signs that would inevitably be ignored by some student who thought they knew better, "Stranglevine, from the south american rainforests. I was lucky enough to secure a sample from a research team that just returned. They're planning a return trip next year and I'm hoping to join them over the summer hols," he grinned excitedly.

Harry echoed his smile and asked, "So it... strangles things?"

Neville nodded, "The plant photosynthesizes like a normal plant but it also grabs and strangles anything that walks too close to it, a bit like a snake does. The current hypothesis is that because the soil is so poor where it grows that it creates its own fertilizer with what it catches. I'm going to have the sixth years grow cuttings and experiment with different soil types and additives to see what we can learn about it. "

"So the first year of being the Herbology Professor went all right, you think?" Harry asked.

Neville scrunched his nose, "Oh, come off it. You've heard all the stories at pub nights; it was a mess. I had no idea what I was doing half the time and the other half Professor Sprout had to come rescue my arse."

"So pretty well then," Harry said.

Neville rolled his eyes and Harry laughed.

"Here's a question for you then," Neville said, pulling his gloves off and chucking them inexpertly at Harry's head, "What's with the pet shop thing?"

Harry grimaced, his good humor draining out of him like a pulled plug, "Who'd you talk to? Ginny? Luna? I suppose you want a perfect pet as well now? Or maybe just to meddle?"

Neville's brow pinched, "What? There was an article in the Prophet, about a week ago or so?"

"An article?" Harry asked, feeling some of the tension leaving his shoulders.

Neville nodded, "All about the pet craze among the Potter Gang, their words not mine, and there was a picture of Ron leaving the shop with a basket and another of Ginny and some of her teammates around a broom with a little cat balanced on the bristles."

Harry shrugged vaguely, "I don't read the Prophet. Sounds almost like real reporting, for them anyway."

"That means you've been to Malfoy's shop?" Neville said uncertainly.

Harry wanted to groan, "Yeah."

"Do you think he's alright now?" Neville asked toying the leaves on a small purplish plant that turned an electric blue where his fingers had been, "This year he's come up and helped out with Hagrid's classes and he seems..." his nose scrunched, "Dunno. He's very patient and careful. He speaks to everyone very formally. Does he do that with you?"

Neville glanced at Harry but went on without waiting for an answer, "He calls Hagrid, Professor Hagrid and me Professor Longbottom. I even asked him to just call me Neville but it's either Professor or Mister, if classes are out."

"You talk to him outside of classes? You talk to him?" Harry asked despite himself.

"Not at first, but he talks to animals and the kids the same way he talks to adults and it's... funny, I guess. It's hard to be angry at someone who will look a niffler in the eye and tell it," Neville put on a cheesy posh voice, "kindly refrain from such impulsive behavior."

Harry grinned, "And then the niffler looked guilty?"

Neville laughed, "Yeah! It's uncanny really."

"What's all this about then?" Harry asked, leaning his hip against one of the work tables.

Neville shrugged, "I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going Lockhart thinking he was alright. There aren't any other teachers my age. I was thinking I might befriend him since he's here so often."

"Going Lockhart?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, the students say that all the time now." Neville sighed, "McGonagall wants us to crack down on it," he sniffed and muttered, "she never had to endure him as a teacher."

Harry laughed.

"Do you want to grab dinner, Thai or Korean, Indian?" Neville asked.

"So not here at Hogwarts?" Harry said.

Neville wrinkled his nose, "Nothing against the food here or Hogsmead but sometimes I just want something different."

"You mean so spicy you kill your taste buds and burp lava for the next three days," Harry said, pushing off the table and following Neville out of the greenhouses and across the grounds so they could apparate out.

Neville looked at him blankly, "Well, I mean, if you can't handle it-"

"Nope. Not a chance," Harry laughed, "I've fallen for that one before, never again."

Neville shrugged, "Do you think Ron or Hermione or Ginny would want to come?"

"Ron's on a stakeout, Hermione always works late when she doesn't have Ron to come home to and Ginny is-" Harry frowned to himself, "I don't know what her training schedule's like."

"Too late to send an owl anyway," Neville said.

They apparated to Diagon alley and as soon as Harry landed and stepped out of the designated apparition point he had a feeling of inevitable doom.

"At least I made it almost two weeks this time," he muttered to himself.

"Made what almost two weeks?" Neville asked, "Trying to give up apparating?"

"That's it," Harry said flatly, "Walked to Hogwarts, only took me a month."

"Shove off," Neville said with a laugh, elbowing Harry lightly.

As they walked down the street Harry very deliberately didn't look ahead to the Magical Menagerie shop. He quite successfully managed to pay enough attention to Neville to hold a conversation about what restaurant to go to.

And when Neville spotted Magical Menagerie and said, "What do you think about asking Malfoy to join us? It's about closing time now."

Harry voice only wobbled a little when he said, "Yeah, sure."

He knew he could have said no and Neville would have gone along with it but it didn't seem like the right thing to do. If nothing else, the way things were going, it seemed inevitable that Draco would end up dragged into his friend group, either by Neville or Luna. Harry could learn to accept a distant, infrequent sort of friendship. Eventually the infatuation would pass. It would only take- he thought back to his past crushes and grimaced- a year or two... or three.

Harry sighed, slipping into the shop behind Neville and stayed at the back wall. The shop was fairly full, with three people in line to the counter and a few others scattered around, still browsing in the last twenty minutes or so before the shop closed. Neville started looking around, peeking into tanks with interest.

Draco was smiling at the older woman at the counter. Harry realized he was starting to stare and forced his gaze away. On the side of the counter was Brynhildr who seemed to sense him watching her and sat up, scanning the room in an unhurried way. She blinked when she finally settled on Harry, her ears flicking forward briefly. She glanced at Draco once and then jumped down, winding through the crowd over to Harry.

Harry obligingly slid down the wall, squatting on his heels and offering his hand for Brynhildr to sniff. She did so and gave him a decidedly disapproving look.

"Sorry I didn't say goodbye last time I here, or hello for that matter," Harry told her, wondering if talking to animals like people was the sort of thing that just rubbed off on you.

Brynhildr accepted his apology by butting her head against his hand and letting Harry scratch her chin.

The crowds were starting to thin but the store was still very full. Neville came over and Harry pushed himself up.

"He seems busy," Neville said, "Maybe another day?"

Harry nodded, trying not to feel like a coward as relief flooded through him.

They stopped by the door as it was flung open, a young woman with short black hair stepping inside on sharp high heel boots. She pulled off a pair of large sunglasses with the panache of a rich heiress which, Harry supposed, she was.

Harry heard a familiar hoot as Merlin hopped from Pansy Parkinson's shoulder and flew across the shop to land on Draco's head. The expression of absolute satisfaction on both Pansy and Merlin was identical and entirely too smug.

"Pansy, I told you not to bring him in here with you," Draco chastised as the last customer left the counter and shouldered their way through the door. He looked up, dislodging Merlin and trying to wave him off, "I thought I was free of your menace."

Merlin flew back to Pansy, landing on her shoulder and huddled into a sulky glower.

Pansy pouted and brushed her fingers over Merlin's ruffled feathers, "Oh, don't be like that, Draco. He is so fond of you. I wouldn't be so cruel as to break his heart and make him wait outside."

"You simply enjoy tor-" Draco's words broke off as Harry, who had been doing his best to hide behind Neville and the open door, was finally spotted.

Pansy raised her eyebrows, slowly turning to follow Draco's gaze. She stepped round Neville to get a better look and gasped, "Potter!"

Before he could even react Pansy's hand darted out and wrapped around his wrist as if to keep him from escaping. There was something strangely desperate in her expression that kept him from immediately pulling away.

Pansy spoke so quickly her words almost bled into one another, "When you offered to take Draco to dinner, was that meant to be a date?"

Harry hesitated. The shop was mostly empty now but he still felt as if the whole world was staring at him.

Pansy's grip tightened on his wrist, "I need to know. Please, Potter."

"Yeah, so?" Harry answered quietly so likely only Pansy and Neville would hear.

Pansy drew in a sharp breath, her eyes shining, "And the Indian place, another date?"

He nodded.

"And the offer of tea?" she asked, her voice dropping.

Harry groaned and nodded again.

"I knew it," Pansy breathed.

Her grip loosened and just as suddenly, Harry wasn't in a mood to eat. He was in a mood to go home, drink and bed, not necessarily in that order.

As he stepped around them and outside once more he heard Pansy behind him shout, "I fucking knew it!"

Harry took a deep breath and hurried up the street, tucking his chin against his chest. He had hardly made it five yards when he heard the shop door slam open and paused to look over his shoulder and see Pansy storming after him, dragging Draco after her with fury lighting her face. She caught Harry's sleeve and held on, linking them all together.

Pansy spun round to Draco whose arm she held in a death grip, "You are the stupidest man I have ever met, Draco Malfoy. Deal with this. Right. Now." She narrowed her eyes and said icily, "Properly." then jerked Draco forward as she let them both go and stepped back out of the way. Her glare swept the late evening crowd and anyone who had stopped to see what was on suddenly had somewhere to be.

Harry shifted his weight uncomfortably and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

Draco opened his mouth but nothing came out. He opened his hands as if imploring or grasping after something. "...I-" he broke off a pink flush staining his cheeks.

Harry watched in fascination as the blush spread, filling Draco's cheeks and creeping down his neck and up into his hair until he was entirely pink with embarrassment.

Draco couldn't look Harry in the eye and ended up looking at his hands, tugging at his own fingertips. "...I didn't know- I-" he broke off and roughly cleared his throat. "Might we-" he took a deep breath, "might we talk somewhere more private?"

"Alright," Harry said with a wary nod.

They went back to the shop which Pansy cleared out with a shouted Shop's closed! that would have put a harpy to shame.

Neville hesitated, glancing between Harry and Draco, "You'll be alright?"

"They'll be fine," Pansy said quickly, wrapping her arm around Neville's arm and tugging him to the door, "While they're sorting this out you can take me to dinner."

Harry caught Neville's eye and managed a halfhearted smile, "Sorry about this, some other time?"

"Yeah, sure," Neville said still a little baffled, letting Pansy guide him outside and asking her, "Been a while. Do you like spicy food?"

Pansy's smile was positively predatory as she pulled the door shut behind them.

Harry and Draco were left alone and the shop seemed unusually quiet.

"Longbottom's fucked," Draco said flatly.

Harry snorted, cracking a smile, "It's Parkinson that has no idea what she's in for."

They glanced at one another and the silence began to draw out again.

Harry looked down at his scuffed trainers and rocked back on his heels, "...So you didn't know I was asking you out?"

"Of course not!" Draco snapped.

Harry looked up in surprise and found Draco pacing back and forth, looking irritated and no longer pink.

"That's not how the world works!" Draco gestured broadly with his hands as he walked, "This isn't some romance novel where the main character's crush just reappears in their life and sweeps them off their feet!"

Harry's eyebrows rose. Crush?

"Completely unrealistic! The logical conclusion is banal: here to buy a pet, here to mock me, here to pity me, here to save me," Draco spun on his heel, pointing at Harry, "those are far more likely, far more- less- not silly."

The amount of absolute disdain Draco managed to put into the word silly had Harry fighting down laughter. He ducked his head and cleared his throat but didn't quite manage to hide his expression.

"What are you grinning about?" Draco said, starting to get truly angry, "It was a joke, wasn't it?! An elaborate fucking scheme to get me back for- for everything!"

Harry rubbed the back of his neck. It seemed Luna was right about everything, as she so often was. "Draco," Harry said trying, and failing miserably, to interrupt.

"For the very beginning, I suspected- but of all people," The angry tirade was quickly devolving and Draco had to turn away as his voice began to break with hints of despair, "I never thought you would-"

Harry reached out and put his hand on Draco's arm, "Draco."

He spun around, mouth open and hand outstretched to jab his finger at Harry.

Harry caught Draco's wrist with one hand and covered his mouth with the other. "Shut up for a second, alright?"

Harry couldn't imagine Draco looking more outraged if he had slapped him. He pulled his hand away, more out a fear of being bitten than any hope Draco would actually let him speak.

But he did. Only pulling his hand free and crossing his arms defensively as he glared at Harry.

"Right." Harry took a deep breath and said as clearly as he could manage, "I fancy you, will you go on a date with me?"

Draco brow furrowed as he frowned, tightening his arms around himself and looking away but not quite hiding the blush of pink on the tops of his cheeks.

Harry went on, "It's not a trick or a joke. It's not pity or trying to save you. I just think you're fit and interesting and I want to get to know you better."

Draco glanced over at Harry, reluctantly loosening his arms. "You're dreadful. Is this how you sweep me off my feet?"

"I-" Harry's expression was torn between confusion and amusement, "I'm fairly certain you said this isn't a romance novel?"

Draco narrowed his eyes.

Harry laughed, "Alright, how about you sweep me off my feet and then I'll give it a try?"

"This is not how it's supposed to go," Draco sighed as he stepped closer. He slid a hand that only trembled very slightly around Harry's back. His other hand slid over Harry's cheek, tilting his head up slightly and kissing him very gently. He bit his lip nervously as he pulled back, slowly flushing bright pink again, "Like that."

Harry smiled, "Oh, I see. So," He curled his fingers around Draco's on his cheek, slipping his other hand up Draco's arm, "like this?" He leaned up and kissed Draco hungrily until he was shaking and gasped when Harry pulled back. "How'd I do?"

"Tolerably," Draco said, his voice rough. He cleared his throat and lifted his chin imperiously.

Harry grinned, "Should I try again? I certain I can do better this time."

"I suppose," Draco said, licking his lips.

Harry wrapped his arms around Draco's shoulders and kissed him again, taking the opportunity to slip his fingers into Draco's hair. It felt like cool silk against his skin and he sighed against Draco's mouth. He pulled the ribbon free and buried his hands in the loose curling strands.

"I take it you like my hair?" Draco said kissing the corner of Harry's mouth.

"Fuck yes," Harry said breathlessly.

Draco smirked faintly, "Good to know."

"Don't hold it against me."

The smirk grew, "That's my prerogative."

Harry's forehead dropped to Draco's shoulder as he laughed. He breathed in, his nose filled with the scent of something sweet and herbal. When he looked up, Draco was looking at him with such a fragile unguarded expression Harry thought the tight thundering ache that exploded in his chest might kill him. It wouldn't have been a bad way to go. Except not being able to kiss him again.

Draco pursed his lips anxiously, his eyes searching Harry's expression, "What are you grinning about, Potter?" he asked quietly.

"You're gorgeous," Harry answered quickly before Draco could jump to the worst possible conclusion.

Draco wrinkled his nose and tried to look annoyed.

"So will you go on a date with me?" Harry asked.

Draco frowned slightly, "You're ruining the moment."

"It's important," Harry said raising his eyebrows.

Draco sighed, rolling his eyes slightly, "Fine."

"As in-?" Harry pushed.

 "As in yes, Potter."