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“Hey, I got your note,” Harry says as he slips into the alcove, slipping his invisibility cloak from his figure. “What was so urgent?” He adds, stuffing the stubborn thing into his pocket.
He finally looks up, his eyes unable to adjust before he is pulled into a tight embrace, a soft kiss being placed at his hairline. He can't help but to smile and settle into the contact, swatting at the other’s arms after a long moment.
“Don't tell me you brought me all the way down here just to get your hands on me,” Harry jokes, ducking to avoid a cuff to the head. He continues on, only motivated by his boyfriend’s raised eyebrow and scowl. “Not that I’m not flattered, but there's a time and a place.”
He doesn’t manage to dodge the hit this time, giggling despite the dull pain resounding from the side of his head.
No,” Draco says simply, “Merlin forbid your ego gets any bigger, would be no space left for the rest of us. I do have something important to tell you.” He added on, fondness lacing his tone despite his harsh words.
Harry smiles stupidly, unable to resist the warm gooey feeling creeping up his spine and seeping into his heart. It was harder to get time alone with Draco these days, Harry with the DA and him with the Inquisitorial Squad. It makes their moments together more precious, though, and he savours the feeling.
He watches with a sinking feeling as Draco’s matching grin falls, his grey eyes darkening. Draco huffs, clenching his fists. “Umbridge has gotten her hands on some veritaserum.” If it's possible, Harry’s heart falls further. “And it is quite possible she plans on using it to interrogate students.”
Harry sputters in a way that is quite unbecoming, his mind running a mile a minute. “That’s- That’s illegal though, isn’t it?” He asks, panicked; there would be no way to hide the DA for much longer if she was going to go around dosing everyone’s morning pumpkin juice with truth serum.
He doesn’t realise the absurdity of his question until Draco’s jaw drops open.
“Illegal?” Draco repeats incredulously. “It’s incredibly illegal!” Draco grabs Harry’s hand, twisting it to show him the scar as if he wasn’t painfully aware of its existence. “But since when has Umbridge had any semblance of a conscience?”
Draco sounds furious now, his voice bouncing off the stone walls. Harry curses under his breath as he slaps a hand over the blond’s mouth, pausing and listening for any sign someone heard them.
Sighing in relief at the silence, he takes a step back, not having the energy within him to look guilty at Draco’s glare. “Look, we just need to stay calm right now, think things through.”
Draco’s lips part silently, his brows knitting together in confusion. “Harry, I don't think you’re getting this. She's planning to drug students,” he says insistently like it just hasn't hit him yet. Harry laughs humorlessly; his life is too fucked up for him to be surprised by things like this.
Pushing his glasses out of the way, Harry rubs his eyes with the heels of his hands, the pressure making colours bloom behind his eyelids. “That's pretty par for the course, actually.” Peeking out from behind his hands, he can see Draco, who while blurry and overlaid with splotches of colour, is clearly scowling. An expression so familiar he can almost see the disapproval in his eyes without his glasses, and he is happy to be proven correct when he slips them back on.
“What the fuck, what the fuck .” Draco growls, voice lowering in tone “How are you okay with this? Why the bloody fuck are you smiling?” Harry doesn’t think now is not the time to tell him he finds him extremely attractive like this, “She used a fucking blood quill on you and now she's planning to drug students !” Harry winces; definitely not a good time. He holds out a tentative hand; Draco ignores it in favour of spouting out a stream of swears that would land him in detention for years from even the laxest professor.
The distinct sound of a pair of footsteps echoes down the corridor, approaching their location. “Shit, Draco calm down for a second, there's-” Draco cuts him off before he can warn him.
“You seriously can not be telling me to calm down right now.” He grits, hopefully quietly enough that whoever is there can't make out his words. Harry has a better angle on them, the Hufflepuff yellow of their robes and lack of prefect badges make him breathe a sigh of relief. Great, they aren't going to get into trouble; that doesn't mean he wants to get caught meeting with Draco Malfoy in a majorly unused part of the school.
Flipping the hood of Draco’s robes over his head, (It wouldn’t do well for them to be recognized by the absolute genetic absurdity that is the shade of Draco’s hair) he pulls the boy with him until his back hits the wall, locking their lips together before either of the Hufflepuffs can catch the sight of his face. Despite himself, Draco relaxes into the kiss immediately, but Harry can tell when he notices they aren't alone; the whispers of what Harry can now make out to be two young girls are loud enough to be obnoxiously apparent in the quiet hallway.
“Julia, shut up, someones here.” Says one of the girls in the least inconspicuous way possible.
“You shut up Zoe!” Julia, presumably, shouts back, effectively giving whoever they thought was looming around in the hallway with them their names. If Harry and Draco hadn’t already noticed them there it would’ve been impossible to not have heard them now.
One of them huffs; Harry doesn’t know them well enough to tell which. “Look, it's just two losers making out in an alcove, they probably haven't even seen us.” Harry nearly snorts at her incorrect assumption, but Draco bites down on his lip in warning, making him moan instead.
“Yuck” Zoe says as their footsteps stop just outside where they are scantily hidden, and Harry feels his face flame in embarrassment.
Julia hums, considering. “I don't know, I think it's kinda romantic”
“You think making out in some dirty alcove is romantic?” Draco smiles against his lips, slipping a hand under Harry’s robes to toy idly with his waistband.
“I mean, yeah! Clandestine meetings in the moonlight.” She sighs dreamily.
Harry is busy wondering about how on earth the girls think they haven’t been noticed, standing 2 metres away and conversing loudly about the situation when Draco puts his other hand under one of his thighs, lifting him off the ground without breaking their kiss.
One of the girls gasps, and the other, who he assumes is Zoe, gags. “Come on, we need to get out of here.” She whispers none too quietly. Harry is glad they're finally going; they've been standing there an uncomfortably long time.
“Wait- Zoe!” Harry chances a peek at them. Zoe pulls Julia along by the arm, Julia resisting but still being dragged along, he catches her gaze right before she is out of view and she is looking directly at him, wide-eyed. “You don't understand,” she insists a moment later, “I swear that was-”
Their voices start to get distant and panic wells in Harry’s chest. Pulling away from their kiss, he cranes his neck to hear better. “I seriously don't want to know who it was, keep it to yourself.”
Harry prays this girl isn't a gossip, if anyone caught wind of him being pushed up against walls in dark corridors it would not be a good day for him. “That's not what I mean Zoe! I mean I think that was two boys…” She adds the last part quieter, unsure of her words but he can still make them out clearly. He isn’t sure whether to laugh at her innocence or to thank whatever deity there was out there that she didn't recognize him.
It’s impossible to turn anymore in the way he's positioned, back flat against the wall, but he tries anyway. “So?” Is the last thing he’s able to hear, though, and he slumps back into Draco’s arms. Draco chuckles against his neck, lips moving to mouth along his pulse point.
Harry pushes stubbornly against his shoulders. “You absolute prat! What was that?” Draco shrugs, but Harry can feel the smile on his lips. “You are so lucky they didn't see who we were, by Merlin I would have had your head on a stake so fast it wouldn't have been funny.”
“You’re the one who pulled me into a kiss”
Harry scoffs, “Yeah, well I was hoping that they would walk away! Not stand there and contemplate.” Harry perks up, remembering, “And I didn’t think you’d put on a bloody show for them! Don’t think I didn’t catch on to what you were doing there.”
Draco hides his grin in Harry’s neck before looking up at him with faux-innocent eyes. “I just want everyone to know that you’re mine.”
He melts slightly at those words, reconnecting their lips for a brief moment. “Yeah right, you bloody exhibitionist.” Draco doesn't deny his words; he only rests their foreheads together, closing his eyes.
“Draco,” He sighs after a long silence, not wanting to break the moment. “We need to think about how we're going to deal with Umbridge.”
The blond frowns but sets him down anyway. “Okay, yeah. Uhm, well she can’t dose you in front of everybody right? So you'll just have to be more careful.”
Harry nods thoughtfully, worrying his lip between his teeth. “I’m not just worried about me, though, if she’s going to interrogate students then someone else in the DA might slip up.”
Draco runs a thumb over his bottom lip, dislodging it from his teeth in the process “If it worries you that much, darling, we can meet up later today; after you finish with the DA. I’ll pop by the Room of Requirement and we can make a night of it, figuring out a plan.”
Harry hums, “Alright, yeah. You take the cloak then.” He says, pulling it from his pocket. Draco places a hand on his arm, stopping him from handing it over.
“You keep it, you need to be safe.”
“No, you need it more than I do, I have the map.”
Draco shakes his head, pushing more insistently at Harry’s hand. “You’ll be in a million times more trouble than I will be if you get caught, you need it more.”
Scoffing, Harry forcibly places the cloak in Draco’s hands. “And yet I still refuse to have you wandering around at night without it. You are important too.”
That seems to have done the trick, as Draco flushes and looks down at the bundle of fabric in his hands, not complaining further. Harry places a soft kiss on his cheek, making his way to exit the alcove. He turns right before he leaves, calling out one last thing, “Be safe, Draco.”
Draco watches as his boyfriend walks away before slipping on the cloak, smiling softly at the thought. His boyfriend. His boyfriend! It was astonishing how giddy two simple words could make him feel, but ever since the moment they had first kissed the words had never stopped replaying in his mind. Tonight is the night , he thought to himself as he left, energy coursing through his body in response.
Harry’s thoughts are similar during the long walk to the seventh floor, running their interaction through his head on loop, analysing and then reanalysing every quirk to Draco’s eyebrows or crinkle of his nose. Committing the feeling of lips against his neck and the sound of his rumbling voice to memory. He loves this boy; there are no other words he can think of to describe the constriction of his heart every moment they are together and most of the ones they aren’t.
He is still cataloguing every breath they shared when he absentmindedly pushes the door to The Room of Requirement open, a dopey look on his face as he walks into a room full of people waiting specifically for him. Ron and Hermione aren’t the first to notice him, unfortunately, as they talk to a group of younger members in a corner. It’s actually the twins who perk up at his arrival, their amused laughter and wolf whistles catching the attention of everyone else in The Room.
Hermione and Ron start walking towards him and he can see when they both find whatever the twins think is so funny. Hermione flushes vaguely pink, holding in her laughter with a hand over her mouth. Ron on the other hand is slightly greener, his hand on his mouth as he gags. Harry looks down at his clothes; despite being ruffled they’re not stained as far as he can tell, but he brushes them off anyway, frowning.
More and more people notice the commotion, several laughing and others whispering between themselves. Ginny is failing to not smile as she whispers with Luna, who honestly might be staring straight through Harry, he shivers.
“Harry,” Hermione whisper-shouts once she's close enough, “you’re late!”
He shrugs sheepishly ducking away from the gaze of absolutely everybody in The Room. He rubs his neck as he opens his mouth to respond but all that comes out is a horrified croak as his hand brushes over a sore spot. “No…” He covers his neck with both hands, looking wide-eyed at the gathering of students, “This is not happening,” he says mostly to himself.
Hermione’s grimace tells him all he needs to know. He is not ready for this conversation.
“Who's the lover?” Someone shouts out and people snicker, Harry wishes he could sink into the floor. The Room doesn’t seem to hear his pleas, however, as his feet stay firmly planted on the stone.
Ron glares, gripping his shoulder tightly. “I can’t believe you were out snogging while we all waited for you here.”
Harry relocates his hands to cover his face, the damage was already done with his neck anyway. “Snogging wasn't exactly the plan,” Ron snorts, “he had an… important message.”
Hermione cuts Ron off before he can make another remark. “Message?” Harry peeks out from between his fingers.
“Message,” He confirms, “an important one at that. Everyone needs to hear this one.” It only takes a minute to gather everyone and quiet them down, Hermione trailing behind him as he walks up to the front of The Room. Gooseflesh breaks out across his skin as she holds her wand up to his neck. He raises his hand to feel and the tenderness is gone.
“Stop squirming, I’m trying to help you out here.” The admonishment doesn’t help much as he shifts his weight between his feet, anxiously righting his clothes as he is all too aware of every eye in The Room being on him.
He sits impatiently through the tense not quite silence as Hermione heals each spot on his neck. When she's done she steps back and assesses her work, smiling to herself.
Harry clears his throat, addressing the room. “If everyone can quiet down, I have some important news to relay. Now it'd be best if we all stay calm and listen up.” Most of the students take the hint and stop their conversations, giving him their full attention. “I’ve received some insider information on Umbridge and the-”
One of the older boys snorts into their hand, turning unsubtly to their friend. “Oh, I bet it was some insider information. ”
Giggles break out among the crowd, and Harry resists the urge to facepalm. Ok, so maybe bad wording on his part; could be remedied . Harry glares pointedly at the boy, “After some intel from an undisclosed source,” he emphasises, “Umbridge and possibly some select members of her inquisitorial squad could have access to-”
“Access into Potter’s pants.” A younger girl, this time, mumbles. Harry groans, and this time can't stop himself from pressing his palms to his eyes.
When he removes them and blinks away the spots dancing across his vision, everyone is still there and staring at him. He prays to Merlin for the strength to deal with this shit but finds none, so he resigns, steeling himself for what is about to come.
“Anyone else have any smartass comments before we begin? Get them all out now, I’m giving you blatant permission so go ahead and do your worst while I won't hex you for it.” Hermione frowns at him disapprovingly, but he ignores her as several faces in the crowd brighten up immediately, two of them very obviously about to make life hell for him.
“What's her name Harry?” Fred shouts out.
“Or his,” George butts in.
“Or their,” Fred continues seamlessly, not thinking for a second to object. “We support you no matter what gender you are having quickies with in the hallway!”
“Comments, not questions.” Harry scolds them, fighting down the blush at their words.
“Ok then,” Seamus says, pulling out a notepad. “Bets on who Harry is shacking up with?”
The students hesitate, some looking questioningly at Harry as if asking for permission and others with eyes wide, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"5 galleons it's Greengrass," Parvati breaks the silence, the tension in The Room snapping as people let out sighs of relief when Harry stands there placidly.
Seamus writes down her bet, glancing up at her after a moment. "Which sister?"
Parvati shrugs, thinking for a moment. "Both?" She suggests, cueing Seamus to snicker but add it to his notebook nonetheless.
The guesses turn from reasonable (As if him dating both Greengrass sisters was reasonable) to downright outrageous frighteningly fast. The suggestions of several Slytherin girls close to their age, (and possibly a boy or two), to ones far outside the range of age gaps to be comfortable, then to the manifestation of Tom Riddle. (Harry cringes at that one, but it wouldn't be the first time he showed up.) When someone ends up betting on Snape, he shuts them down quickly and tries not to puke on himself.
“Maybe it's Umbridge,” a Ravenclaw teases, “a real enemies to lovers moment, don’tcha think?”
A chorus of gagging and laughter breaks out, and the girl next to them fake retches and cuffs them over the head affectionately, roughing up their hair with a fond smile. “Yuck, Echo, only you would come up with something so grotesque.”
Echo shoves her back, following the girl as she stumbles. They snort when they land upright in her arms. Harry turns away from the display.
Ginny grins brightly at him, and he gives a strained smile back, not quite managing to enjoy the fun through the murky idea of him and Umbridge being… Involved. He must have stared at Ginny for too long, lost in that disturbing thought because she raises an eyebrow and elbows Luna, goading her to join in.
She turns towards him, eyes fixating on his figure in contrast to where she had been staring at a corner of the ceiling. “I wouldn't want to intrude, Harry, It is your personal life after all.”
“No, just,” Harry sighs, relenting, “go on, Luna. You can't possibly be saying anything worse than the rest of them.”
She hums, looking off into the distance. “Well, if I had to make a guess I would say Malfoy.”
The entire Room is silent besides Ron’s abrupt choking cough. Hermione pats him harshly on the back, a blank, open-mouthed stare on her face. Ron recovers and tries to intervene but Harry holds a hand out to stop him.
“Why would you think that?” He prompts. She's somehow the only one to guess Draco so far, despite him being the one Slytherin besides Snape Harry has the most history with. (And someone already tried to bet on Snape, but he would rather forget that.)
“His aura has been such a lovely shade of pink nowadays when it used to be a terrible foggy purple,” She says as if that explains everything.
Harry baulks. “I- I don't understand how that's relevant… And anyways, aren't pink and purple close enough of colours? There's barely a difference.”
Luna stares impassively at him.
The girl beside Echo is the first to break the silence, cackling loudly and slapping them on the shoulder. “See? She's just as barmy as you Echo, the two of you can make your outrageous enemies into lovers fanfiction together!” She teases them, putting her hands on her hips and leaning over despite her height disadvantage.
“No- No, don't say that. Luna, you confident enough to bet on that?” Seamus asks, holding his notebook at ready.
Luna nods serenely, ignoring the bewildered looks being thrown at her from across the entire Room. “I'm quite certain of it actually, so you can put me down if you'd like.”
Someone scoffs in the crowd, a hateful comment on their breath. Harry reaches to pull out his wand in her defence, loony, they said.
“It’s alright Harry, I don't mind what they think, I’m just glad you’ve found someone who makes you happy.”
“Uh, yeah. Thanks Luna.”
The class once again falls into an uncomfortable silence, Harry trying to regain his footing while he has a chance.
“Uhm, didn’t you have something important to tell us?” Cho interjects, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Not that fantasising about your love life isn't fun,” she adds sarcastically, “but I’d love to hear this ‘important news’ before it gets too late.”
“Mmm!” Harry snaps his fingers, “Right, so if you’re all done then, we can get back to the important things.” The Room stays quiet. ”Great. As I was trying to tell everyone earlier, Umbridge has gotten her hands on veritaserum.”
It would be almost amusing, the unnerving resemblance between the expression on Hermione’s face and a question mark if only not for the circumstances. He can spot the indignation underneath her surprise, though, and feels a flicker of regret for not briefing his friends before outright telling everyone.
The regret hits him full force this time when The Room breaks out in noise.
A young Ravenclaw girl holds her head in her hands, mumbling frantically to herself. “We're going to get caught, we're going to get caught! I can't go to jail, I have so much to live for.”
“Okay. Listen, no one is going to jail!” Harry shouts over the noise, “If you would all just listen to me for more than a minute we could start talking about a plan!”
The girl lifts her head, hope shining in her eyes. “Do you have a plan?”
“I- We don't exactly have a plan yet but… I need you all to be careful until then, alright?”
“No plan?” She wails, “How are we going to be careful with no plan?”
Harry fumbles, “Well…”
Voices raise again, the tension growing thicker around them.
“Everyone shut up!” Ginny yells, her annoyance written plainly across her face. “You guys seriously can't be leaving this all up to Harry. I don't see any of you coming up with plans. No one here has any ideas or spells?”
“Are there any counter-spells to veritaserum?” He asks, tilting his head.
“Occlumency!” The girl from earlier beside Echo pipes up excitedly, raising her hand.
He claps, “Great, what is that?”
She waves her hand vaguely, “You know,” she starts, even though he really doesn't. “It's like closing your mind. Veritaserum gets up in there and pulls everything out so you cant lie, but if you know occlumency, you can keep it all locked up real tight.”
Perfect! That was a lot easier than expected.
Frowning, she continues. “But if you don't already know it then it won't be super useful for you. It took me years to learn and even still I dont think I’m good enough to resist some properly brewed veritaserum.” He deflates, and she smiles apologetically at him.
“We could just steal it from her,” Dean suggests. The idea of getting one over Umbridge clearly ignited something mischievous in his eyes.
Harry shakes his head; as much as he would love to see the indignation on her toadish face, it would only attract attention. “Not only do we not know where she has it hidden, it would just alert her that someone is on her tail. We don't need the scrutiny.”
Someone scoffs, “Are you even certain she has it? What if this insider information, ” They mock, “is just a ploy? Can you really trust this undisclosed source ? If they're really so dependable then why aren't they here right now, why aren't they helping us come up with plans?”
Several jaws drop open; everyone turns towards them. Harry bristles instantly at their tone and smug smirk. “Excuse me?” He asks incredulously, hoping he hadn't heard them right.
They don't recognise the fury in his eyes or don't care. “I don't think I could've been more clear. Had it never occurred to you that maybe that bitch you’re fucking is using you? Guess it never crossed your mind and all since you're ‘The Boy Who Lived’ but obviously they’re in league with Umbridge since they are close enough to know about her veritaserum, supposedly. What makes you think you can trust some dirty snake?”
Harry is lunging at them before he can think it through, any thoughts of using his wand thoroughly forgotten. But once they fall to the ground from the impact, he catches sight of their maniacal smile. He can hear Hermione calling his name and the surprised gasps of people around them.
His senses return to him quickly, and he regrets having enough mind to not punch them square in the face. “If you ever speak another ill word about him I won't hesitate to break your nose next time.” He snarls into their face. He's sure he looks absolutely crazed, cheeks flushed with anger and hands gripping their collar so tight he can feel his nails digging into his palms through the fabric.
They only laugh, though, lighting up like it's Christmas morning. “Him? Well, well, well. I do stand corrected then, really my mistake. It seems like you're the bitch in this scenario.”
Any self-control he had instantly vanished; there was a satisfying cracking sound when his fist made contact with their face. Strong arms pull him back and away before he can hit them again, and he flails in their grip, red-hot anger coursing through his veins.
“Harry!” Hermione appears in his field of vision, blocking the sight of the other student being lifted up off the floor, blood seeping through the fingers covering their face. “What on earth were you thinking?”
He scoffs, yanking his arms out of Fred and George’s grips, “How can you even be asking me that? You heard what they were saying, I can’t just let them mouth off like that!”
“You very well can and should’ve, you’re better than that, this is exactly what they were goading you to do.” She scolds, but he doesn't care to listen as she goes on, focusing on their wide smile as they stare at him. They don't break eye contact as they hold their wand up to their nose and mutter episkey; he can hear the crack of bones from where he stands and winces involuntarily. They don't flinch, and their smile doesn't waver.
“Hey!” Hermione smacks him on the shoulder. “Are you even listening to me?”
Harry shakes his head, mumbling out an apology. Hermione frowns at him, tilting her head in consideration. When he turns away from her, he is only met with more pitying faces and his gut churns.
“Where do you think you're going?” Ron calls out suddenly, pulling Harry’s attention back to the present. They turn around, having been walking towards the exit.
“Where does it look like I’m going?” Harry swears he can hear them mutter an insult under their breath, “I’m leaving.”
Ron splutters, looking at Hermione. “We can't just let them leave, right? What if they tell someone.”
“Oh don’t worry about that,” They grin, focusing back on Harry. They raise a single finger to their lips mockingly, “I wouldn't tell a soul, it can be our little secret. And about the club,” They turn back to Ron, “I don't fancy getting in trouble myself, and I have no desire for Umbridge to succeed.”
No one moves to stop them as they open the door and walk out. “I mean… The spells are still in effect, so we would know if they do expose us.” Hermione whispers to him.
“Hey, none of us agree with what they were saying, you know? You can date a boy if you’d like to.” George says after a long silence, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Parvati coughs, “Uhm, I have a problem with it!”
“You- What? Parvati you never spoke out when Dean and Seamus got together.”
She rolls her eyes, “No, not him being gay or bi or whatever, I mean I literally just bet on him dating two girls at once.”
“Not like that was super likely to be happening even if he wasn't dating a boy.” Padma retorts, “That was a terrible bet and you know it.”
Parvati huffs but doesn't protest further. “Wait,” Harry says, confused. “Since when were Dean and Seamus together?”
Padma frowns, “Since, like, forever?”
“Summer after second year,” Dean amends.
Harry nods, wondering how he could have missed something like that for so long. He had always thought they were just comfortable with each other, but looking back on it, it did explain some rather awkward moments he had had with them. He really should apologise for those.
But even though he was happy for his friends, he couldn't help the painful clench of his chest. No one minded that they were dating. Not that Harry wishes people were homophobic, but the jealous corner of his mind screamed that it wasn't fair, that if he would be treated differently for dating Draco then they should face the same treatment.
That’s not really the issue though, the revolt wouldn't be that Draco is a boy, in the end. ‘The son of a death eater’, people would scream, ‘Harry Potter turned to the dark side’, the newspapers would accuse. Merlin, and how Sirius would react? He dared not to imagine the disapproval on his face or the way Remus would recoil at the mention of a boy whose lineage is the reason he's had to hide who he is for so long.
Surely they would understand, though, wouldn’t they? Sirius could relate to being born into a family that did not share his ideals. And Remus knows that there can be kindness from someone against all odds; he had received that from Sirius despite everything.
“Congratulations to you two then, a belated one at that.” He says instead of voicing any of those thoughts, startling when Dean claps him on the back.
“We still have some time,” Hermione supplies, eyes full of hope and mouth in a tense smile. “We can go over a few things before everyone has to go, so… Let's get to it!”
It doesn’t take the class long to get back into rhythm, and Harry is grateful for the distraction from the events that had taken place. Spellwork is far easier than confronting his own feelings so he relishes in the freedom and control of it while he still can.
The Room gradually grows quieter as the students filter out, leaving in small groups every few minutes. He mills about The Room, avoiding any of the lingering members littered about.
Hermione places a hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up from the pillow he had been fluffing for what must have been a few too many minutes, as everyone is gone besides her and Ron. She quirks her head at him, and he shakes his, pushing himself from his spot on the floor.
“You two go ahead, I’ll be along later tonight.” She breathes deeply in response, running her eyes along him in search of something he can’t begin to comprehend.
Ron frowns. “You aren't coming, mate?”
She must find what she's looking for because she nods and turns away. “He’ll be back later, let’s get going.”
Ron makes a protesting sound but walks along with her; the last thing Harry can hear before the door shuts behind them is Hermione, “Shut up Ronald, he needs this.”
When the door clicks shut, Harry slumps back onto the stone floor, closing his eyes tight. He isn't sure how long he sits there until the harsh solid surface turns soft and plush beneath him. The door opens and closes softly once more, the sound of shoes thunking to the floor a moment later. He can hear sock-clad feet pad along the carpeted floor towards him before turning; the unmistakable rustling of fabric rings out clearly in the quiet Room as Draco lays down the invisibility cloak and then his own robes.
A soft hand caresses his cheekbone before tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear. “Rough meeting?” Harry hums, leaning into the touch which comes to cradle the side of his face, thumb swiping over his skin soothingly.
He opens his eyes to be greeted with the most gorgeous sight he thinks he might ever have the pleasure to see. Draco crouched in front of him, head tilted and lips parted; his eyes shining a shade of grey that could make the stars jealous. Harry falls for him again at that moment, the adoration plain on Draco’s face as Harry melts into him.
The feeling that overwhelms him could conjure a thousand patronuses, he doesn’t think Draco understands how much he means to him. “It doesn’t matter now.” He says, and it's true; the tension that had been building up in his muscles slackened considerably in Draco’s presence. The other boy provoked somewhat of a visceral reaction from him, making him feel as if there was a respite from the war, a future for him. He supposes that it's something akin to hope or love.
Draco smiles at him, all teeth and Harry fears his heart might not be able to take it. That is until Draco speaks again, “Do you plan on staying on the floor all night?” It takes him asking for Harry to realise that he's still seated uncomfortably on the ground, Draco on his haunches right next to him. He coughs and turns red, pushing away and standing up.
“I was about to get up.” He says defensively, turning away to hide his burning cheeks.
The blond snorts but stands up with him, grabbing Harry by the hand and sitting him on a sofa that is by far more comfortable than the carpet. Draco folds his legs underneath him and pats his lap; Harry baulks at him because surely he doesn’t want him to sit on his lap like a besotted girlfriend. Draco rolls his eyes at his stupidity and pulls him down, resting Harry’s head in his lap instead of his entire body.
He instantly starts raking his fingers through Harry’s curls, detangling and arranging the strands. Harry sighs contentedly, closing his eyes. Draco seems too to be content with the simplicity of the moment and doesn't prod Harry any further on how the meeting went.
“What's on your mind?” He asks finally, pulling Harry out of his brain-addled bliss.
He isn’t quite sure how to respond, there are so many things on his mind yet none of them seem to explain why he feels this way; twisted up internally. “Did you know Seamus and Dean are dating?” He settles on eventually, not opening his eyes to meet Draco’s gaze.
Draco hums as if thinking over his answer, even though it really should be a simple yes or no question. “I suppose so.” And before Harry can ask what that means, he continues. “They never hid it, and I never thought much about it.”
“I just learned today, they told me. Er, well, I suppose Fred is the one who mentioned it.”
“Is that so?” He asks, and Harry’s brow furrows at the simple response but he hums in the affirmative anyway. “And why did that topic of conversation come up?” He follows with, and Harry realises at that moment that he is utterly screwed; he was led right into the topic of conversation he did not want to broach and Draco knew exactly how to string him along to it.
Harry huffs, turning his head away from Draco’s body. The blond’s hand stills in his hair for a moment, hesitant, but it resumes its combing when Harry pushes his head back into the stilled fingers. He isn’t angry, just trying to think of a way of responding, which is a hell of a lot easier without Draco’s gaze locked on his face.
“The topic may have come up in reference to me… Also liking men.” He picks at the fabric of his trousers, bringing his knees up.
Harry opens one of his eyes in anticipation of Draco’s response, but his view doesn’t provide much clarity. The Room looks similar to how it always does when they meet here, the fireplace crackling cheerfully in front of the sofa providing a soft subtle warmth despite the ability to heat the area magically.
“And they were supportive?”
“Uhm, yeah.”
Draco’s hands pause.
Harry swallows, shifting to lie on his side. “Someone insulted you,” he blurts, cheeks flushing as he buries his face into Draco’s lap.
“Me?” He asks quizzically.
“Well maybe not you specifically, it was more so the idea of you. Well- Well it was after… Ugh, I should start at the beginning.” He takes a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. “Well when I walked in with those hickies you gave me– screw you for that by the way– people were bound to start talking and what was I supposed to do?” He rambles, feeling somewhat hysterical.
“They all started talking and it just got out of hand… Seamus had everyone make bets on who you were.” He mumbles the last bit into Draco’s pant leg, probably looking as pathetic as he feels.
Draco snorts, “I’m not sure I heard you right, darling, what was that last bit?” He teases; Harry can practically hear how he bites his lip cheekily. No matter how comforting the banter sounds, he smacks Draco in the chest, chastising him.
“You heard me.”
“Maybe. Did anyone bet on me?” He asks after a moment.
Harry chuckles deliriously, “Yeah, actually, one person.” Draco perks up underneath him. “Luna.”
“I knew there was a reason I’d always liked her.”
Draco smiles wide; Harry knows because he can feel it when he leans down and smothers his face in his neck, making him giggle from the soft whisper of lips against his skin. Harry sighs deeply and rolls over, catching Draco’s lips in a chaste kiss, and reaching up to card his fingers through the blond’s soft hair.
When Harry exhales, Draco wastes no time in deepening the kiss, cradling Harry’s head in his hands. “How doesn't it bother you?” Harry whispers as they pull away to catch their breath, opening his eyes to savour the sight of Draco before he can process the question.
Draco frowns, and the moment is broken, and Harry panics internally when the blond moves all the way back. But instead of getting up and leaving, he manoeuvres Harry to be sitting in his lap properly, straddling Draco’s thighs and facing him. Harry flushes to his ears and tries to shift away but Draco places his palms on his hips, holding him firmly in place.
“It's not that it doesn't bother me, just not in the way it does you,” He sighs, “Harry, I always knew there were going to be people who disagreed about this.” He motions between them. “It's what I signed up for, and It’s worth it because it means I get to have you like this.” He ends his sentence by pressing a slow kiss to Harry’s lips, resting their foreheads together when he pulls away.
“Am I really worth it though? All the criticism, hell, from even your own family? When people figure out it's not going to be easy.” Harry bites his lip, looking down at their laps.
Draco tilts his chin back up, looking him in the eyes with a sincerity that scares him. “And I still choose you, Harry, I want for nothing more than you with me. If I had the choice I would tell everyone exactly how much you mean to me, that includes my parents.”
“But you know you can't do that. It would jeopardise your place spying for the Order.”
“No,” Draco confirms, “but until then we have this,” He says, running his hands along Harry’s sides, “That’s enough for me, I’ll take you any way I can have you.” Draco sucks in a deep breath, composure falling as his cheeks tint a brilliant pink. “Harry, I love you.”
Harry gasps, he wasn’t sure he could ever recall someone saying those words directly to him; tears cloud his vision. “Draco,” He says breathlessly, “I love you too.” Harry wraps his arms around Draco’s shoulders, holding him tightly against his body. When their lips make contact, it feels different, somehow more intimate than the kisses they had already shared. He’s quickly surprised by Draco’s vigour but realises even quicker that he doesn't want him to stop.
As their tongues slid together Harry felt more at peace than he had in a long time, like the world had disappeared and it left only them behind and their love for each other. Their lips move instinctively as if speaking a language only they knew and never wanted to stop speaking.
They surrender to the intensity of their feelings, their bodies pressed together and problems forgotten. “I love you, I love you, I love you.” One of them chants like a mantra into the scant space between them. Draco pushes frantically at Harry’s robes, sliding them off his shoulders and throwing them to the side without a thought.
He might have to amend his earlier statement, Draco now, flushed pink all because of him, eyes dark and staring into his is definitely the most gorgeous thing he's ever seen. “You’re beautiful,” he says aloud because it's true, and if he doesn’t say something now he might overflow with feelings.
Draco’s eyes soften and their lips meet intensely, the push and pull an intoxicating pleasure that left him lightheaded. Harry cups Draco’s face in return, the boy’s smooth skin alight with their desire for each other.
Harry pants as Draco moves to kiss along his neck, lips and tongue laving a trail down towards his collarbone. “No hickies up high this time, I only just got them healed,” he murmurs breathily, hands coming to clutch at Draco’s hair.
The blond growls, scraping his teeth against sensitive skin. Harry’s eyes snap open in surprise, he hadn’t noticed he closed them, but one thing stands out to him the moment they focus on his surroundings. He can’t help but burst out laughing, burying his nose in Draco’s shoulder.
“What?” He frowns, “Did I mess up?” He sounds legitimately worried, and Harry leans back, releasing him from the embrace. He struggles to make out words, pushing his glasses up to wipe his eyes.
“Mmph!” He manages to point behind Draco, taking in deep breaths. “The Room seems to have decided we needed something.” He giggles, ducking his head into his hands. Draco shifts underneath him, turning his body halfway around to peek behind the sofa.
“Oh, oh wow.” Draco tilts his head, trying to turn more to get a better look. “I wonder which one of us The Room thought required it. ” He muses out loud. “It wasn't there when I walked in earlier.”
Harry hesitates, looking back up at it. “I didn’t consider that…”
A large four-poster bed sits comfortably against the wall adorned with red curtains and a plush red duvet. Harry tilts his head; it does look quite comfortable. But what would Draco think if it appeared for him; was that too forward of him? Or, well, of The Room interpreting his thoughts.
Draco quirks an eyebrow, looking between Harry and the bed. “To be completely fair, it is red.”
Harry scoffs, pushing at Draco’s chest, but the blond just smirks at him.
“If you wanted to go to bed with me, you could’ve just asked, darling,” The smug bastard says, eyes sparkling.
“Oh as if.” Harry retorts like he isn’t completely unopposed to the idea, “Are we even completely sure it's not yours? You're like the horniest person I know.”
He sniggers, “I forget you haven’t talked to Blaise, he could give somebody a heart attack with the stuff he talks about. And besides, isn’t it completely natural for me to want to kiss my gorgeous boyfriend?”
They collapse into each other, laughter shaking their bodies. Harry takes a deep breath, attempting to remain calm. It works for a minute until Draco waggles his eyebrows at him, causing him to choke on his saliva. Harry falls backwards off the couch but can’t stop laughing, curling into himself on the floor.
Draco follows him onto the carpet, peppering kisses along his face and every exposed inch of skin he can reach. “I love you,” he murmurs, “so much.”
When Harry pulls him in for a real kiss he's smiling too wide for it to work too well, their teeth clacking together. Neither of them mind or notice, encompassed in the warmth of the admission. No matter how many times either of them said it, it was impossible to convey the intensity of the way they felt.
Later that night Harry shrugs his robe back on, Draco redoing the knot on his tie. “You know I wish I could stay the whole night with you,” Harry comforts, “but I did promise Ron and Hermione I’d be back tonight. They’re probably worried as it is.”
Draco rolls his eyes and Harry returns the gesture, moving to look around The Room for his wand. After a minute of futile searching, he looks up to see Draco biting his lip to hold back a smile. Harry frowns disapprovingly at him, but Draco only smirks as he stands up, coming over to slip his hands under Harry’s robes.
When he pulls away he holds Harry’s wand in his hand, smiling fondly and placing it into Harry’s waiting palm, intertwining their fingers for a moment. “I slipped it into your back pocket earlier, darling, thought you noticed.”
Harry huffs as Draco places a quick kiss behind his ear, using his wand to check the time. A quick tempus results in a coughing fit, and he splutters as Draco pats him on the back. “Oh Merlin, I’m screwed. I’m so screwed!” They had been in The Room far longer than he thought, if Ron and Hermione weren’t still awake tonight to scold him, he wouldn't hear the end of it tomorrow.
Ron already doesn’t love the fact he’s with Malfoy, but after being late to the DA meeting and now getting back to the common room at an unreasonable time he was sure to get an earful. He isn’t sure how Hermione feels about the entire situation, tardiness aside, she has been rather elusive about it, occasional comment notwithstanding.
Draco, the bastard, snickers at his panic. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist, I doubt Weasley and Granger are going to crucify you. Just tell them we were going over plans, Granger loves those; she's sure to throw you a party or something for finally using your brain before acting.”
Harry raises an eyebrow, “You say that like we weren't actually going over plans.”
Draco tilts his head deliberately and Harry smooths his collar out defensively over what he's sure is more hickies. His hand brushes against the cool fabric of his tie that Draco had done up only minutes before, and he smiles. The boy has always complained about the boorish state in which he wears his clothes or his hair. Harry has long since deduced it was just Draco’s way of getting an excuse to run his hands over him, smoothing out wrinkles or sinking his fingers into Harry’s hair and rearranging the black locks into a more desirable position.
He quickly learned that the blond was a very physical person, contact was one of his main ways to show affection, and he was constantly doing so. Harry had asked him once, why there was an almost ever-constant form of touch between the two of them. Draco had answered by pulling him closer, saying that it was grounding, to have someone tying him to the present; to have a weight to prove he was real.
“Yeah, okay. Whatever, I need to get back to Gryffindor tower. You’re going to be the death of me, you know.” Draco smiles and places a soft kiss on his cheek, whispering his farewells. Harry returns the sentiment and waves as he leaves, donning the invisibility cloak before stepping out of the door.
Draco would be fine walking the castle freely at this time of night, him being both a prefect and a part of the inquisitorial squad. One of the main reasons a bit of favouritism doesn’t hurt. Harry was simultaneously reassured and worried by Draco’s closeness to Umbridge. It puts him in more danger if he is caught, but it provides him more safety to act within.
He's never going to get anywhere with this circular logic, he has already spent too much time worrying about this exact issue. Draco has assured him time and time again that he would be okay, that he knows how to take care of himself. He doesn’t doubt Draco’s ability to do so, but he doesn't want him to have to.
The Fat Lady is snoring peacefully in her portrait when he steps in front of it, and she glares at him when he removes the cloak, whispering the password to her. She doesn’t open up immediately, regarding him with a scowl and likely considering not letting him in purely for waking her up.
He smiles brightly at her, and with a sigh she lets him in; he clambers through the portrait hole into the common room. It’s late enough that he can hear his footsteps clearly in contrast to the quiet atmosphere, the only other noise being the crackling of the fire.
Maybe Ron and Hermione already went to bed, he mused, glancing around the room. A light snore cuts through the silence, though, and he wanders over to the sofa. He smiles softly when he spots them, Ron fast asleep and leaning on Hermione, mouth open wide. She doesn’t seem to mind too much, her nose buried in a book.
Harry snickers at them, making his presence known as he moves to sit on the rug in front of the fire. Hermione jostles Ron, and he jumps up in his seat, mumbling incoherently. Hermione hides her laughter behind her hand, watching as Ron becomes aware of his surroundings.
“What’d I miss?” He asks blearily, rubbing his eyes against the heels of his hands.
“Oh, nothing important, just Harry finally arriving at the most abysmal time of night. So don’t worry.”
Ron frowns, looking around at the empty room. “Blimey, what time is it?”
Harry opens his mouth in defence, but Hermione beats him to it. “Does it matter? It’s late, that's what time it is.”
He winces at her tone, pulling his knees up to his chest. “I’m sorry, Mione. I got caught up, didn’t realise the time, I swear I wouldn’t have been so long if it wasn’t important.”
She raises her eyebrow, “What were you two up to that was so important? It’s not safe for you to be out at this time of night, who knows what will happen if you get caught.” Her tone is harsh but she means well, and Harry appreciates the concern.
“We were coming up with plans, you know, for the veritaserum.”
Hermione cocks her head, “That took you the entire time? Well, did you at least come up with anything good?”
Harry flushes up to his ears, finding the floor to be very interesting all of a sudden. “Not exactly the entire time.”
“Yuck,” Ron says, “I don’t want to know what you and Malfoy get up to during your little clandestine rendezvous.”
Harry pauses, “Clandestine?”
“Clandestine,” Ron repeats, giving him a weird look. “Do you not know what that means?”
“No- No, of course I do. That’s just exactly what some Hufflepuff girl said earlier today…”
“Why on earth were you talking to some Hufflepuff girl?” Hermione questions, “And why did she know about you and Draco?”
Harry groans, he shouldn't have brought that up, it's a story for never. “She didn’t- I… It’s hard to explain, but no she doesn’t know; it doesn’t matter. That’s not even the point really, it's just… Clandestine, I don’t know.” He rambles, searching for the right words. “When you say it like that, it makes it feel dirty, like it's wrong. You know?”
“No, mate, I don't know.” Ron responds blandly. “Besides, no matter how ‘dirty’ you say it makes it, the word fits. You two are running around in secret because it is kinda wrong, no offence.”
His heart sinks, and he picks at the rug fibres. “Oh,” Hermione says, “I’m so sorry, Harry.”
“What? Why are you sorry?”
“We should have been more supportive about this. I didn’t realise just how much all this furtivity was bothering you, and with those comments earlier and how you reacted…” She trails off, looking into the distance. “I just haven’t been a very good friend. And besides, I’d say it's more… Covert, than clandestine.”
Harry snorts, smiling at her attempt to cheer him up. “Thanks Mione, that means a lot to me.”
Ron tilts his head, ginger hair falling into his face. “I really don’t see what the big deal is, it’s not like you’re in love with him.”
His cheeks flame up immediately and he hides his face in his knees, peeking up at his friend's reaction.
“Bloody hell, I’m going to have a Malfoy as a brother in law.” Is all Ron says, mouth agape.
Harry baulks, “Brother in law?” He asks, incredulously, “Doesn’t that imply that we’re brothers?”
Ron shrugs, “You’re as good as a brother to me and Mione, just not official, that's all.”
“Does that make Hermione your sister too, then?” Harry asks, and Ron scrunches up his nose in reply, making a weird, pinched face.
“Maybe not. Maybe- Maybe Hermione is like your mom and I’m your dad, and you’re like,” Ron waves his hand vaguely, “like getting your first boyfriend and all, and I have to threaten to kill him if he hurts you, or whatever.”
Harry hums, “I’m not so sure about that, I don't think Draco would be too happy if I start calling you Daddy.” He turns his head, watching his friends out of the corner of his eye and smiling mischievously into his sleeve.
Hermione breaks out into laughter, Ron following shortly behind her. Harry’s heart feels full for the first time in a long time, and he can't help but join them. With these people, the people, there might be a chance for a brighter future - something he had never thought possible.
Even if it’s just for the moment, but it feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders, it feels like getting out of the war alive might be possible. It would be worth it to try; to try for those who love him. There may still be challenges ahead, but with his friends, he could face them, he doesn’t have to do it alone.
Harry gulps in oxygen, fighting off another laughing fit. Pure adoration for his friends courses through his veins, lighting him up inside. And as he looks at them, still giggling on the sofa and leaning into each other, he knows he loves them more than he will ever be able to express in words.
But he can still try, “I love you two so much,” he says, and he means it with his whole being, “I can’t express how much you mean to me,” he continues, letting the words flow past the lump in his throat. He’s never been amazing at expressing his emotions, but at this moment he can’t find a reason not to.
“Harry!” Tears well in Hermione’s eyes. “We love you too, so much.” She slides off the sofa to pull him into a warm hug, tucking her nose into his neck. “Draco probably does too, you know. But if he ever hurts you, I’m not against punching him again.”
Ron nods from his perch on the sofa, but Harry grins wider. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem. He already told me, earlier today.”
Hermione gasps, pulling away from him. “And you weren’t going to tell us? Harry James Potter we are your best friends!.”
He grins at her, “Of course I was gonna tell you, was just waiting for a good moment.” He pauses for a beat, “I said it back.”
Ron scrunches up his face, but behind his apprehension at the mention of Draco, he looks genuinely happy for Harry, and Harry can't be more grateful he has such amazing friends.
“Was it super romantic?” Hermione asks, sitting mermaid on the rug next to him.
Harry shrugs, recalling the moment Draco had said it. “I suppose so, I don’t really know what classifies as romantic. But I think it was sweet,” he blushes as the memory progresses, there were definitely some details he could omit.
He retells the encounter to Hermione, Ron listening along and cringing slightly at some parts. He may not be completely used to speaking of Draco in such a friendly manner, but he was putting in an effort. Hermione is an attentive listener, nodding and asking questions along the way, and at the end, she seems satisfied with the story, though he was sure she realised he wasn’t telling it word for word.
She hugs him again, “I’m so happy for you. You two have something really special, you deserve to be happy.” Ron nods along, smiling at him.
“Good on you, mate. I may not be Malfoy’s number one fan but I can tell he really cares about you and… Well you’ve earned some happiness, if anyone has.”
Happiness surges through him as he embraces her tighter. He goes to bed that night with a smile and wakes up well-rested for another day trying to get by, but he knows that there is a future where he will be able to wake up next to Draco. And he knows that there is a future where he will be safe, loved, and okay. And that's enough to get him through now.