The prompt for this one was ‘laugh’ from the lovely @drarrymicrofic
For the longest time the only thing I could think about for this prompt was this video (only the first 40 sec). But I couldn’t find a good way to incorporate it in a little fic.
Word count: 600 (perfectly 600!!!)
Drarry microfic: laugh
Laughing had been something Draco had not done much of in the years following the war.
His healer had said it was one of the after effects of having to spend a whole year all alone in a cold, dark cell in Azkaban. One of the after effects of being near the Dementors for an extended period of time.
Alongside the gruesome nightmares, Draco couldn’t seem to find any joy in anything anymore. Nothing had been able to make him laugh.
Of course, he could produce a small smile here and there. But he couldn’t really remember the last time he truly and fully laughed.
His friends had tried everything. Literally everything. From inviting him on pub nights to even going to a muggle comedy show.
But nothing… nothing had made him laugh. He had only managed to smile lightly but even that felt forced and unnatural.
That was, until one particular evening.
It had all started with Pansy dragging him to one of those weekly pub nights again. Even though Draco had made it very clear he wasn’t interested in going anymore.
Not after Anthony Goldstein had cornered him in the loo and had threatened him asked him politely to not show his face again. Draco had left shortly after, ignoring Pansy’s watchful eyes burning in his back.
Luckily, Anthony didn’t join them again that night. Instead a familiar pair of green eyes had taken a seat right in front of him at the other side of the small table. And of course every time Draco glanced in his direction, he was staring right back.
It was embarrassing but also… it stirred something deep down in Draco’s chest. A feeling he had not felt in ages.
It was exhilarating.
So when, a few hours later, Draco announced he was leaving for the night and Harry almost jumped out of his seat, claiming he had forgotten to feed his non-existent cat, Draco couldn’t help the genuine smile blooming on his face.
A very small smile. But a smile nonetheless.
He deliberately ignored Pansy’s and Blaise’s raised eyebrows when he said his goodbyes, the smile still present on his face.
“Are you Apparating?” Harry asked as the door closed behind them, effectively cutting off the sound of the pub.
Draco shook his head. “I’m taking the tube.”
He could feel Harry’s curious gaze on him again. “Alright,” he said, “I’ll walk with you then.”
“I can perfectly manage on my own, you know.”
“Yeah, I know. But I wanted to ask you something.”
At that, Draco looked at Harry, actually looked at Harry for the first time that evening. He had to admit the man had filled out nicely. Broad shoulders, scruffy beard, dark curls pulled back into a bun.
Ah, yes. There was that feeling in his chest again.
“I er… well you know er… I was wondering if you uhm…” Harry started. He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, his gaze fixated on the stones of the pavement. He opened his mouth to continue and—
*THUNK*
The hollow sound of Harry walking right into a street lantern echoed around the abandoned street, quickly followed by quiet giggles that slowly changed in full peels of laughter.
Draco stood, doubled over, holding his sides for dear life, laughing. Actually full on laughing.
For the first time in years, Draco was laughing.
Laughing, because some dim-witted bloke Draco seemed to fancy rather too much for his own liking, just had to be his awkward self again.
But damn it all if it didn’t feel good to be able to laugh again.
Read it on ao3
Prompt from 25th of May 2021
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