He gave a solemn nod and didn't inquire further. This was enough for him. As soon as they were done, he would send a message to Jake about meeting his relatives tomorrow. He was slowly getting used to sending messages. He still was cumbersome about it.
"I'm ready for the next challenge you want to throw me at me." He commented instead wanting to get some more training.
[The day they got the camping supplies was when we had planned to have Jake get him the phone and we pretty just speed that the scene up. If you still wanted to do the phone part we can ignore that bit or if you're okay we can keep it. I'm good either way. Sorry for the confusion!]
Draco nodded and did as told. He mentally braced himself and tried to keep all senses alert for what may happen.
Silence. The wind blew quietly across the moor, the half-moon over head. Remus stood there, watching Draco, making him get more and more anxious about it on purpose. Then, slow and silent, he started moving closer and closer, waiting Draco closely.
[Very slow. Think hen pecking on a a regular keyboard and then double checking or triple checking for mistakes.]
The waiting was beginning to make Draco anxious, but he tried to not loose focus. The noises that came from the moores and the way the shadows played from the moon didn't help either. He tried to not let his mind go into over play.
Remus decided to come forward with a likely scenario. If Draco's enemies had seen him with the Muggle, then they could likely use the Muggle to hurt Draco. So he came up behind the puppet and when he had his wand to the puppet, he laughed a dark laugh. "Malfoy!" Faking the possible real scenario. "Hanging out with Muggles?" A sneer, but it didn't show in his eyes.
The fact that Remus was imitating his friends almost caught Draco off guard. It seemed so uncharacteristic of him and yet at the same time it showed how much he was paying attention to his students in class.
"Expelliarmus!" Draco said and with a gesture of his hand he aimed to disarm Remus of his wand. He wasn't going to waste time bantering with him.
He had survived two wars, been a part of the Order most of his life; he had learned well to pay attention to the people around him. Twisted to the side to avoid the strike, which was a good start, but he moved right back behind the puppet. "That all you have?! What about your little Muggle friend here?" An arm came around the puppet's throat, wand to it. "Better put your wand down, Malfoy."
Draco didn't say anything retort although there was a slight twitch in his check. He couldn't afford to waste his time bantering with him. With a loud bang he created a thick smoke screen that surrounded them. Right as he appearated he used a silencing spell and then appeared next to his puppet his wand at Remus's chest.
Remus felt that wand more than saw it, currently coughing out a lungful of smoke. "Well-" hack, "well done! Even caught me by-" cough, "surprise." He gave a quick wave of his wand to clear the air, still coughing. "Amazes me how quickly you pick up when you're interested!"
The complimented earned a smile from Draco. He really was trying and with the interest of protecting Jake was high on priority list, he put all his effort in it. "I have someone I want to protect...I never really had that before," Draco commented.
Okay that was no small hint. Another cough, wiping an eye, as Remus peered at Draco before just going for it. "I told you we wouldn't judge, and I still won't, but... Draco, is this... Muggle of yours... More than a friend?" Okay a touch awkward.
.....Draco then realized he just accidentally outed himself. He didn't think it would come across that. He was thinking on friends and family terms. Harry always had his friends to protect...his friends weren't exactly friends. He pointedly looked at his feet and nodded his pale face a bright shade of red.
Oh dear. Remus slid a hand back through his hair, scratching at the grey at his temple. This just got massively more awkward didn't it? His statement before had only been combined with his previous statements to make him think that maybe... he hadn't thought he would be right! Oh bloody hell. His parents would flip their kids wouldn't they? He breathed out, then said quietly, "told you, no judgement. If he's your mate and that's what you want us to keep it at, regardless of the truth, then we'll treat him as your mate. But... if you need to talk to someone, I'm still here. To listen. Help."
"I just know that when my family finds out and they will... they'll disown me in a heart beat. If you were able to figure it out...my mother would be able to the minute she saw us together. And what bothers me the most is...that I followed them through the darkness and they won't be able to accept me for who I am."
Draco carefully replied still refusing to look at Remus. He knew that Remus would be more accepting, but it was still hard to openly admit it and discuss his fears.
"Mm." A quiet sound, thinking. After a few moments, Remus chose to suggest one thing. "Given your parents, Draco... It might actually be used against them. I think they might not be able to imagine you /with/ your friend and thus they will believe he is your friend through their sheer denial."
"I--I don't know." Draco said doubt clinging to his voice. He warily glanced up at Remus with uncertainty. "Maybe my father...but I can never hide anything from my mother...nor can my father hide anything from her."
"All we can do for now is keep it close to our vests. I won't tell them, swear on it. What does your friend say- Jake, was it?" A long pause about that. "...There are certain issues given that he's a Muggle we'll have to... devise. He isn't supposed to know about our world, but... it happens. My mom was a Muggle, after all."
"He wants to meet them...but he's aware that they are very hard parents and rather difficult to work with. But... he's been in a similar situation and understands the issue I have with my folks."
He gave a slow nod. Unsure if he should admit that Jake already knows. "You said most find out through marriage."
"I'm fairly certain that most find out before they chose to marry, but it becomes... difficult if they handle the news badly. I think the relationship has to be serious enough that you would risk your heart being broken if it doesn't go well, but not so far that it would be utter devastation." A sad smile. "The risk of falling in love."
"That would make more sense. I just don't see how a relationship can work that well if you're always having to cover something up." Draco pointed out. "It's been hard enough trying to explain what I can and can't."
"Just remember." Remus came closer, trying to get Draco to meet his eyes. "Muggle or not, male or female... Same thing. Remember there's a difference between love and lust. Puppy love and love aren't the same thing. It's only been a short time since you've met this lad. Get to really know him. Make sure he's worth... everything. Emotional and physical, right?"
He nodded and met Remus's gaze. Despite Remus's, well meaning...Draco had already broken a lot of what was said there.
It was hard to explain, but Jake was different. Everything about the relationship was so different then what he had with Pansy.
At first he thought that his interest in Jake was because he was so lonely, but the more he spent time with Jake he realized it wasn't so. He knew their relationship was moving pretty fast. He blamed some of it on the fact he would be leaving for school soon.
Remus thought Draco would say something in return, but when nothing came, he wondered if the boy had already done something he shouldn't or if the conversation was just too embarrassing. He wrestled with himself as he stepped back, making the puppet vanish with a flick of his wand as he thought. "...you're lucky, for all that your parents will undoubtedly have issues with the situation. It's still so much more accepted now a days than when I was your age. It was illegal for a long time."
"Even if it's more accepted...there are still many who feel it's wrong." Draco remorsefully pointed out. "My old group alongfound the topic to be horrible and ridiculed that as much as they had for those who weren't pureblood.
Did you know others who preferred the guys?" He hesitantly questioned curious since Remus had made it a point of how it had been illegal.
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"I'm ready for the next challenge you want to throw me at me." He commented instead wanting to get some more training.
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"Alright then." A quick smile, and Remus said simply, "turn around. Now... we'll deal with surprise attacks."
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Draco nodded and did as told. He mentally braced himself and tried to keep all senses alert for what may happen.
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Silence. The wind blew quietly across the moor, the half-moon over head. Remus stood there, watching Draco, making him get more and more anxious about it on purpose. Then, slow and silent, he started moving closer and closer, waiting Draco closely.
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The waiting was beginning to make Draco anxious, but he tried to not loose focus. The noises that came from the moores and the way the shadows played from the moon didn't help either. He tried to not let his mind go into over play.
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"Expelliarmus!" Draco said and with a gesture of his hand he aimed to disarm Remus of his wand. He wasn't going to waste time bantering with him.
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Draco carefully replied still refusing to look at Remus. He knew that Remus would be more accepting, but it was still hard to openly admit it and discuss his fears.
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He gave a slow nod. Unsure if he should admit that Jake already knows. "You said most find out through marriage."
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It was hard to explain, but Jake was different. Everything about the relationship was so different then what he had with Pansy.
At first he thought that his interest in Jake was because he was so lonely, but the more he spent time with Jake he realized it wasn't so. He knew their relationship was moving pretty fast. He blamed some of it on the fact he would be leaving for school soon.
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Did you know others who preferred the guys?" He hesitantly questioned curious since Remus had made it a point of how it had been illegal.
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