Outside it was a lovely September day, with weather worthy of the last lingering days of summer. The sun was shining, and although most of the trees were still green, you could see a few eager ones here and there who had already dressed themselves in the beautiful yellows and oranges of autumn. As I walked down the road to Hogsmeade, hand in hand with Draco, I felt nothing but pure bliss. Well, I also felt a bit hungry, somewhat nervous and positively bouncy, but other than that, nothing but pure bliss."You seem happy, mate o' mine," said Draco, making me smile even wider. 'Mate o' mine' seemed to be his favourite endearment, and somehow it always gave the butterflies in my stomach a sudden urge to wake up and do the Macarena. I think he knew it too, judging by the slight smirk he always wore while saying it.
"That's because I am happy," I laughed, my feet doing a bit of skipping on their own account.
"Any special reason why you're so happy?" Draco prodded further while shaking his head a bit at my childishness. He didn't fool me though, I could see the small smile hiding in the corner of his mouth.
"Nothing, everything, you," I said evasively, grinning like a lunatic and, I suspect, looking quite silly.
"Care to elaborate?" Draco said, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Well, I just, I don't know, I like this new you. I like being around you and being able to just hold hands like this and I like that no one seems to mind and that my friends are happy for me and that for once since I got these blasted looks they seem to be good for something!"
Laughing, Draco shook his head. "I'm sorry that you don't like your appearance, for all I care you could have just continued looking like you did, but well, I can't exactly control this Veela stuff, now can I?"
"That is nonsense and you know it! If you hadn't minded me looking like I did, I would have been looking like I did! The sole reason I changed was because your Veela side takes some perverse pleasure in having his bloody submissive looking as submissive as possible. And don't go trying to pretend you don't like the way I look, because if you didn't, I wouldn't be looking like this," I exclaimed while pouting slightly. I was still a bit annoyed with Draco for these looks, although I was past the point where I planned his untimely demise.
"Hey, don't go blaming this on me! But you're right, I do like the way you look. You're absolutely edible," Draco all but purred, while leering at me in a way that was bound to make be blush. And sure enough, the minute he looked at me I felt the heat rise from my neck and up. I must have looked like a tomato, but somehow, Draco didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, every time I blushed his grin only got wider. Which, of course, only made me blush more. It was a down going spiral.
"Speaking of edible," I said in a desperate attempt to change the subject. "Could we get something to eat in Hogsmeade? I'm absolutely famished!"
"It's fine with me, I think I would rather like a bite myself. Where do you want to go?" asked Draco, and I silently cheered. The subject diversion was a success!
"Anywhere with food is good," I grinned.
"Three Broomsticks?"
"Yeah, why not? They have a killer shepherd's pie."
Draco laughed, "Three Broomsticks it is then."
We walked in companionable silence for a while longer, just enjoying the nice weather and each others company. Soon we reached the main street of Hogsmeade, and because of the nice weather it was buzzing with life. Students and inhabitants alike were bustling back and forth, doing their shopping or just plainly taking delight in all the little village had to offer of sights. Hand in hand, Draco and I walked over to the Three Broomsticks where Draco swiftly found us a booth in the back. Usually I used to avoid the little establishment at all costs due to the overly exuberant atmosphere, but today most of the people were outside in the sun, so it was thankfully nice and calm.
"Shepherd's pie and butterbeer?" asked Draco and when I nodded he made his way over to the bar to order. He soon came back with two butterbeers and two plates. The minute he sat the plates down on the table, they filled up with a healthy portion of Madam Rosmerta's best shepherd's pie
"How much do I owe you?" I asked, assuming of course that I would be paying my share. Obviously, I'd never been on a date with a Veela before.
"Owe me?" Draco seemed confused. Almost as if it hadn't even occurred to him that I would be paying for myself.
"Yes, owe you. You know, for my butterbeer and the pie."
"Oh, nothing of course! Honestly, did you think I would let my date pay for himself? That wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me, now would it?" Draco just shook his head and dismissed the whole notion. He even had the audacity to laugh at me for suggesting it.
"And it would be gentlemanly of me to let you pay the whole bill by yourself?" I scowled. Not paying my own part went against about every one of my principles.
"But you don't need to be a gentleman anymore, Harry. You have me to do that now. Just don't worry that pretty little head about it."
I sat in stunned silence. He hadn't really said that, had he? I mean, really, 'don't worry that pretty little head about it', how much more condescending was it possible for a person to sound? Just because my looks had changed for the better over the summer, it did not mean I was some brainwashed, blonde pretty-boy! Practically growling, I glared at my mate. "So you're saying that just because I'm your submissive, I have to act like a bloody girl!" I might look like one, but I was definitely nota girl!
"Well, as the submissive, you are the girl in this relationship." Draco said matter-of-factly, then turned away from me and started eating his pie. Just like that, as if the conversation was finished and resolved to everyone's liking. It made me furious.
"Well, fuck you, Malfoy." I spat out his name as if it was the worst kind of profanity, then got up and ran out. Away from Malfoy and his fucking gentlemanly behaviour.