Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 1083

Pairing - HarryDraco

Of Coffee And Cake

"So, I'm sitting there, barbecue sauce on my titties—"

Harry shook his head. "I need far more coffee than I currently have in my system to deal with these kinds of stories. Take pity on me, Gin!"

She laughed loudly, and nodded her head to a coffee shop across the road. "Come on then, you big baby. Let's get you some coffee."

Harry stared at the coffee shop for a moment before he shrugged. "At least it's not a Starbucks."

"I still don't understand you're irrational hatred of Starbucks," Ginny commented. "It's good shit."

"Shit being the operative word in that sentence, yes," Harry agreed. "It's just so pretentious. Half crap, part filled, mocha-choca-fangled whatever. Like… just let coffee be coffee for Merlin's sake!"

Cackling, Ginny shook her head. "You're such an old man!"

"I'm twenty four!"

"Old."

Harry shook his head. "I don't know why I put up with you."

"You loooove me."

"Uh huh. I prefer to think of it like I'm doing the world a service. If I put up with you, some other poor schmuck doesn't have too."

Holding her hand to her chest, mock offended, Ginny said, "I'm hurt. Hurt and appalled and disgusted."

"Right. And I'm still lacking caffeine, so what do you want?"

She surveyed the menu thoughtfully. "Raspberry iced tea. I think. No. Strawberry? No. Raspberry."

"You're a pain in the ass."

Harry left her at a table and turned to the counter, only to freeze when he saw the barista. Either he was losing what little was left of his sanity, or Draco Malfoy was leaning on the counter, watching Harry with a guarded yet haughty expression.

Harry stepped forwards, curiously. "Uh. Hi?"

"Potter."

"I… gotta say, of all the places to run into you, this seems like the last," Harry admitted.

Malfoy snorted. "Would you have expected to see me at the Ministry, where everyone hates me, instead?"

Harry nodded. "Yep. Definitely."

"Not all of us have got a backbone coloured red and gold, Potter. What can I get you?"

"Uh. Raspberry iced tea… and probably give me a strawberry one too, otherwise, she'll only be sending me back to the counter. And… coffee?"

"Well, you are in a coffee shop. What kind of coffee?"

"The kind that will stop Ginny from driving me mad?"

"Sorry, don't think I stock it," Malfoy drawled. "A silencing charm, I can do though, if that helps?"

Startled, Harry laughed. "I might take you up on that. But seriously, just like… normal coffee please? I can't with the frappy-cappy things."

Draco's lips tilted into the smallest of smiles and he nodded. "Go and sit down, Potter. I'll bring them over."

"Uh, do I pay now or…"

"This one's on the house."

…

Harry pushed the door to the coffee shop open cautiously. He was a little bit nervous coming back, since Ginny wasn't with him as an excuse this time. There was nobody behind the counter, so he sat down at one of the tall stools to wait, perusing the small food menu.

"Sorry, sorry—oh. It's you, Potter. Well, still, my apologies."

Harry waved him off. "It's fine." He nodded down at the menu in his hand. "Any recommendations?"

"Carrot cake," Draco replied immediately. "It's fresh, I made it an hour ago, and if I do say so, the best in London."

"You made it?"

Looking amused, Draco nodded. "Did you think I just made coffee? Potter, I own the place, I don't just work here."

"Right. I knew that."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Call yourself an Auror."

"I don't actually," Harry replied. "I quit, almost three months ago."

"Oh. Well. Congratulations."

"That… is not the reaction I've had off of many people."

"Well, let's be honest, you could never have been a real Auror Potter. How in the hell were you ever going to get anything done with the press hounding you? Not to mention people looking for revenge."

Harry twisted his lips as he conceded the point with a nod. "Right. They wanted a poster boy. I'm not that anymore. I think I did my part, I'm entitled to a life now."

"Well. Good for you. I never would have believed I'd be saying this when we were in school, but it's nice to be free from the expectations of wizarding society. My father, for example, would absolutely despise my career choice."

"I'm sure. How's your mum?"

"She's doing well. Living it up in France," Draco replied, smiling fondly. "Wait here. I'll get you some cake and some normal coffee."

Harry watched him go into the back with a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was strange, to converse with Draco like this when their past relationship had been so filled with animosity and hate, but he didn't… he couldn't deny that he liked it.

Draco was funny.

And he made Harry feel comfortable. That didn't happen often these days except with the select few people that had been in his life for so long now that he couldn't help but be comfortable with them.

Except Ginny. Ginny lived to make him uncomfortable, but that was normal too.

When Draco returned with a large slice of cake and a mug of coffee, Harry remained at the counter. He made his way through the sponge (delicious) and they chatted about their lives now.

It didn't get awkward, not even when the past was brought up in a passing comment here or there, and Harry thought he could get used to this.

"So, what's next for Harry Potter?" Draco asked, pouring him a refill.

"I'm in no hurry to find out," Harry admitted. "I think, for now, I'm going to keep visiting this little coffee shop I found that serves normal coffee and gorgeous cake, and just… relax for a while."

The smile on Draco's face was beautiful, and his grey eyes shone with happiness. "If you keep showing up here, I'm gonna put you to work. Can't keep handing out coffee and cake, Potter, you'll put me out of business."

Harry grinned. "I'd like that… the working, not putting you out of business."

"I should hope so," Draco replied, chuckling. He softened. "I'm really glad you're here, Potter. And I didn't ever expect to say that, either."

"Me too."

…

Three weeks later, when the shared their first kiss, Draco tasted like coffee and chocolate cake, and Harry thought he might be in love.

He was hopeful that he wasn't the only one.

Written for:

Showtime - 20. "I'm in no hurry."

Attic - 3. "So I'm sitting there, barbecue sauce on my titties…"

Scamander - 16. Grey

Festival - 16. Next

Galleon - 3. "Wait here."

Creative Collection - HarryDraco / 4. Hopeful

House Unity - G&S vs R&H - "I'm really glad you're here, [name]." / Romance

365. 266. Sponge