A Conversation Over Tea

"Draco! Are you alright, mate? You look awful!"

The slim, blonde man in the doorway had small bags under his eyes and his hair and clothes were rumpled. It was most unusual to see Draco in such a state.

"I feel like shit."

"Damn. Come in, do you need anything? I'll make you some tea."

"Thanks."

"Here, sit down, I won't be a minute. Good thing I had the kettle going."

"Thanks." Draco sat down heavily and slouched against the sofa cushions.

Blaise quickly went into the small kitchenette of his flat and grabbed two mugs out of a cupboard. Draco was a frequent visitor at the apartment; after all, the two had been best friends since childhood. In fact, they had often been each other's only friend. The recent War had tested their loyalties in ways that many did not understand. Blaise grimaced inwardly as the old adage ran through his head: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." That was certainly true in the case of the bond between him and Draco. They had been fugitives from the fight, neither supporting nor opposing a side but hunted by both. Hiding as Muggles was no pleasure cruise for the two pure-blooded boys, but they had survived, barely.

Once the War ended, Draco immediately returned and cleared the tarnished Malfoy name, but Blaise had chosen to continue his low-profile life. Manchester had been his haven for almost three years now. He used magic again and had his fireplace hooked up to the Floo network, but had grown too fond of the Muggle culture he had acquired to fully go back to the life of a wizard. The television fascinated him to no end, and the microwave was a blessing from heaven. He had even started following Manchester United more closely than the English Quidditch team! But deep down, he knew he hadn't gone back because he was scared. He had no desire to experience the media madness that had surrounded Draco's return to wizard-kind. And he didn't think that he could bear to see...certain people. One specific person in particular. He couldn't bear to cause her or himself any more pain. The physical wounds from the War had healed, but the emotional ones still felt as raw as they day he received them.

When Blaise walked back into the living room, Draco still sat motionless on the sofa. He held out the mug as he sat down next to his friend.

"Here's your tea. Darjeeling with a splash of milk and a dash of sugar, just the way you like it."

Draco took the proffered drink and let the steam rise towards his face. He heaved a sigh.

"You're a lifesaver, Blaise. Honestly. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I do my best. Now, do you want to talk?"

Draco sighed again and blew on his tea.

"Eh. Harry kicked me out again."

"What? That's the third time in the past two months!"

"Don't I know it."

"Sorry. What happened this time?"

"We just had a tiff about something stupid. Same as always. He said I was only with him for the sex, which is not true, but he doesn't believe me. He's so possessive."

"He wasn't like that before the war, was he?"

"No. Before the war broke out, he thought he was going to die, so it really was all about the sex. Which was fabulous, let me tell you. And then once the fighting started, we realized how much we meant to each other. But it's an uphill battle being with him now. Ever since the war, he's been insecure about himself. And about me. Dammit, I can't handle this constant jealousy! I have never cheated on him and I never would, but he's so accusatory that if I spend any time with anyone else I feel like I'm betraying him!"

Blaise couldn't help but smile. The past two times Harry and Draco had fought Draco had come to Blaise for advice and a place to stay the night while his lover simmered down. Harry and Draco had to be the most unlikely pair the wizarding world had ever seen. They had seemed to be such polar opposites in school; yet one day in their seventh year, shortly before war broke out, rumors flew around Hogwarts that the two boys had been seen kissing by the lake. Neither denied it. Blaise still didn't fully understand how the two had managed to put aside all of the bad blood between them and actually form a relationship, not to mention one that had outlasted a bloody, vicious war. Draco had attempted many times to explain why their bond worked. "We just understand each other," he said once. "We have all the right things in common and all our flaws cancel out. Everything about him is...I don't know, he's just Harry. Besides, he's unbelievably cute..." Blaise had snorted at the idea of Potter being called "just Harry" but "just Harry" had somehow made his best friend happy. The times when they did fight, Draco was always despondent and morose, much like he was now, seated on the sofa, gazing into a mug as though the answer to all his problems was buried somewhere in the tea dregs. It was such a change from his usual, snarky self that Blaise had to shake his head in amazement.

"Oh, Draco. You really do care for that man, don't you?"

"I do. He's everything to me. I...holy shit, Blaise, I really love him. And he doesn't believe that. He doesn't feel the same way."

"How do you know? Have you told him how you feel?"

"Not in so many words, no."

"He might need you to say it. He always was a little thick."

"But what if he doesn't feel the same way?"

"If he's so concerned about you cheating, then he must care for you at least a little bit in return."

"I suppose...Do you really think he could love me back?"

"Draco, I've seen the two of you together. The way he looks at you is just...it's in his eyes. He has this expression of complete caring and tenderness. I've always wished I could find someone who would look at me that way." Blaise looked away and tried not to let the memories of the girl who used to look at him "that way" overwhelm him. It had been so hard to leave her. He wondered if she remembered the traitor she used to love. He hadn't forgotten her.

Draco didn't seem to notice Blaise's sudden change of mood; he just smiled encouragement to his red-haired friend.

"You will, Blaise. I'm sure you will."

"You have to tell Harry how you feel." Blaise continued as though Draco hadn't spoken, trying to ignore the pang of loneliness growing in his still-broken heart. "I know you don't like being emotional and sentimental, but if Harry means as much to you as you say he does, then you have to let him know. If you really do love him, then don't risk losing him. I think you've got the real deal. Honestly, if you two made it through the war and you still are together, he has to feel something for you. Don't throw that away or you'll regret it later on."

"You're right. Ah, thanks for the tea. I'll go talk to Harry. Assuming he doesn't hex me into oblivion on sight."

"I'm sure he won't. He'll be too happy to see you. Let me know what happens."

"I will." Draco stood and started for the door. Suddenly he turned back to Blaise with a small grin on his aristocratic face. "Oh, by the way, I saw the Weasley girl the other day. She asked about you."

Blaise's heart skipped a beat. "Ginny? She asked about me? When? Where?"

"Yes. Quite eagerly, I might add. Harry went to visit the whole clan of red-haired hooligans on Tuesday and I tagged along. She seemed very curious about whether or not you were seeing anyone. You had a little fling with her back in school, didn't you?"

A little fling. Blaise had never told Draco how close he and Ginny Weasley had gotten before the war broke out...

"It was more than a fling, Draco."

"Oh really? Maybe you should pay her a visit..."

"Maybe...Thanks, Draco. Thanks a lot."

"You too. I'll see you later, mate. Thanks for the advice. And the tea!"

Fin