Chapter Text
Harry wandered through the halls of Hogwarts. He was taking one last walk before he had to go. His trunk was already packed and loaded on the Hogwarts Express, but the staff had decided to let the eighth years spend one last day to relax before finally shipping them off, and Harry gladly took that opportunity.
He wandered down the staircases, letting them take him wherever they wanted. He thought back to earlier in the year, when he would wander the halls late at night, and wondered if he had finally seen the whole castle. He went to many places, especially with the marauder's map on hand. He would be leaving it to Ginny and Luna to use for their final year.
Harry walked over to one of the windows in the hall, looking out over the grounds one last time. Hagrid's hut lay nestled close to the forbidden forest, and he could swear a thestral was wandering through the pumpkin patch, but he really couldn't tell.
He made his mind up to go say bye to Hagrid and started wandering towards the door. It was funny, he supposed, that the last time he had thought that, at that window, was the first time he saw Draco in the quidditch pitch.
Harry paused when the thought of Draco popped into his mind. He hadn't spoken to him since the last full moon, almost a whole month earlier. He was hesitant to ruin the already fragile first threads of friendship they had formed over the past couple of months, so he avoided him.
It wasn’t like he didn't want to see him, however. He still caught himself sneaking glances across the room against his will. He just wanted to see him smile again. Maybe admire his cheekbones some more. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to cup his jaw and pull him close.
Harry shook his head lightly as if he could shake away the thoughts. He huffed quietly to himself as he pushed open the castle doors, it was weird to think about his friend that way and was not helping keep him away from him.
He couldn't help it though, Draco had become a much better person over the course of the year, even befriending some of his friends who had previously despised him. They were also good people that way, giving him a second chance to grow.
He had even seen Hermione and him studying together in the library, which threw him for a loop, and then deterred him from getting help because he could not handle the full force of both of them, and definitely not because he was avoiding Draco.
It was hard, especially when sometimes he would catch Draco staring at him from across rooms with an unreadable expression. He couldn't tell if he was being judged or even hated, but either way, the intensity of the look brought a flush to his cheeks.
Harry paused for a moment, the fact that they were both graduated and finally settling in. He wouldn't ever see Draco again. Well, that was a bit of an exaggeration. He probably would see him around, but not in the same way he saw him around Hogwarts. They would be going out into the wide open world, down different paths which would, most likely, hardly ever cross.
And for a brief moment, that thought calmed him. He wouldn't have to worry about being in love with Draco Malfoy anymore, he would never see him again and would probably find another nice person to fall in love with. Someone safer. Someone more like him.
But it was only a brief moment. After that ended, all Harry could feel was a sinking, horrible dread. He didn't want to like anyone else. Not yet. Draco was better now, Draco was someone who he cared deeply about now, and wasn't that a terrible thought.
He wanted to worry about never seeing Draco again. He wanted to be close to him. He wanted the years of drama that came with him. He wanted the story and he wanted what they could have.
Without realizing it, Harry had wandered into the quidditch pitch again. It was weird to see it bathed in sunlight and without the familiar, tall silhouette of Draco. He sighed, glancing around the pitch.
This was where he first felt like he belonged in this crazy world. He felt more at home in this pitch than in most other places in the castle. Back when he was young and naive he felt like he was at the top of the world here.
But, glancing around, the clearest things he could remember were his nights with Draco. He supposed that made sense, however. Catching his first snitch 7 years ago can become a bit foggy compared to dancing with your supposed rival-turned-crush a month ago.
That thought hit him hard. 7 years ago. He couldn't remember the time passing so fast. He didn't even know why he was here, and the emotions felt like they were bubbling to a head inside of him. He couldn't be here anymore.
Harry turned to exit the pitch but froze.
Draco was standing at the entrance, watching him. Once he noticed that Harry noticed him, he seemed to make up his mind, and he started walking towards him.
Harry didn't know what to do, he couldn't tell if Draco was angry or not. He couldn't tell if he was about to get beat up or chewed out, so he just braced for impact.
He heard Draco reach him, but he did nothing. No yelling, no spells, no kicks or punches. So Harry decided to screw it and look up at him.
The first thing he noticed was his eyes. Usually so hard and cold, but at this moment he felt like he could tell everything that was going on in his mind. They were sort of puffy, like he had been crying, but everyone cried when they graduated so it didn't stick out to Harry all that much.
What did was the soft look being directed at him, which almost read like a goodbye.
This was it. This was Draco bidding him adieu and then leaving his life forever. This was their final moment together, but Harry couldn't have that. He didn't want to leave their relationship like this. He couldn't leave their friendship like this.
So, before Draco could say anything, Harry opened his big mouth, and blurted, “I like you.”
Immediately, he slapped his hands over his mouth in shock. He had not meant to say that. Damn, his impulsive Gryffindor tendencies. There was no shot he could salvage their friendship now.
He stared up at Draco with wide eyes, almost dreading his response.
Draco blinked in surprise, his eyebrow lifting in confusion, “I.. like you too, Harry? You’re my friend.”
Harry dropped his hands, chuckling nervously, “Yeah. I don't know why I said that. You’re my friend, too, Draco.”
Draco shook his head at him, “You're such a Gryffindor. So endearing yet so simple-minded”
Harry scoffed playfully, thanking Merlin that Draco had not realized what he actually meant, “Yeah, well you’re rude! I am not simple-minded! I’m just... sentimental!” He decided to ignore Draco's comment about being endearing, he didn't want to give himself more unnecessary hope.
Draco chuckled and turned away from him, looking off onto the pitch, “I suppose it's warranted. We won't be back here again anytime soon.”
Harry's mood immediately soured, the reminder of their quickly shortening time here hitting harder than before now that Draco was here, “How do you feel about that?” He asked, softly.
Draco thought for a moment, his nose scrunching a little in thought, “I will miss it dearly. Hogwarts has been so welcoming for all my years here. It could have been a second home If I tried a little harder. I will rue the secrets I never found and the time I lost being hateful. But, I think it will be good to move on. To forge my own place in the world.”
Harry nodded in agreement, though he couldn't bring his heart to agree with the statement, “I don't know how I’m going to do it. Leave. I feel like I’m losing a part of me. Hogwarts has been my home.”
Draco glanced down at him, his eyebrows furrowing in worry, “Has Hogwarts been home, or have the people been home?”
Harry blinked in surprise. Thinking about it, yes, the castle has always been welcoming and safer than the Dursleys, however, thinking back, the fond memories have been mostly because of his friends. Curling up with Ron and Hermione by the fireplace, helping Neville out around the greenhouses with Luna, playing quidditch with Ginny, and dancing with Draco.
“You won’t lose the people when we leave, will you?”
Harry broke out of his thoughts, turning to face Draco, who had already turned to him and was looking at him with a knowing smile.
Harry grinned back up at him, “Surprisingly, you're right. For once.”
Draco scoffed, “You should know, Harry, I am frequently right. And I give great advice all the time.”
Harry laughed softly, biting his lip to stifle his chuckles. He was going to miss their banter when they left. He could feel himself blushing but couldn’t bring himself to care.
At the sound of Harry's laugh, Draco huffed lightly, a pink blush forming on his cheeks, “You know I give great advice. Don’t laugh.”
Harry nodded placatingly, “Of course, Draco.”
Their conversation puttered out after that, as they both turned to gaze over the quidditch pitch. Although Harry had come to the conclusion that he wasn’t going to miss Hogwarts as much as he thought, he still was going to miss it.
He was going to miss the security that came with being a child, a student. He was going to have to go out into the real world, where there were few safety nets and lots of chances for failure.
“What are you going to do after Hogwarts, then?” He spoke up, turning to Draco. He wanted something to fill the air between them. He wanted to keep talking to him, especially during what was probably their last conversation.
Draco grinned, “I’m going to become a potions master. Like Professor Snape. He was amazing for his age, and I’m going to be better.”
Harry rolled his eyes at Draco's confidence, “Well you don’t have to be so sure about it.”
Draco chuckled, “I’ve wanted to be a potions master since first year, I’m going to be sure about it. And I bet you’re going to be an Auror?”
Harry frowned and shook his head, “No.”
He glanced up to see a shocked look on Draco's face and hurried to clarify, “I’m just tired of the fighting. I never wanted to fight. I was kind of forced into it as a kid, so, no I’m not going to be an Auror.”
Draco's shocked look melted into one of understanding, which absolutely did not make Harry feel warm inside, absolutely not.
“So what are you thinking about doing, then?” Draco asked, seeming genuinely curious about Harry's plans for the future.
Harry felt his cheeks warm slightly, no one but Hermione and Ron had asked him yet, “Well. Sometime in the future, I think I’d like to pursue teaching.”
He had brought up his dilemma to Ron and Hermione, agonizing over the idea of not being an Auror but also not knowing what to do, and they had reminded him of the DA in the fifth year, and the genuine joy he seemed to get from teaching the other kids, and also the skill in which he did so.
Draco nodded, “I do think you’d be a great teacher, you always have been good with practical applications of spells, so, Defence Against the Dark Arts?”
Harry grinned brightly at the fact Draco had paid attention to him enough to realize that, “Yeah. But that's in the future. For now, I’d like to just settle down. Help my friends with their startups. Relax after the last 7 years.”
“Settle down? I guess you deserve it. Are you going to wait for Weasley- Ginny, and then settle with her?” Draco asked, looking slightly constipated again.
Harry laughed lightly, “No, Ginny and I aren’t gonna settle down together. She and I broke up a while back.”
Draco blanched slightly, looking at Harry incredulously, “Really? Wow. I did not see that coming.”
Harry shrugged, “We were just different people. It was natural. It's in the past. Anyways,” He smirked up at Draco, nudging him with his shoulder and feeling his heart squeeze tightly, “Do you like any girls right now? Thinking about settling with any of them?”
Draco blinked in surprise and whipped around to face Harry, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.
Harry couldn’t tell why he was acting so weird all of a sudden, but before he could ask, Draco blurted, “I’m gay.”
He blushed lightly and scratched the back of his head sheepishly, “I don’t know how you didn't know that, almost the whole school knows at this point.”
Harry's jaw dropped, he didn't realize he might have an actual chance with Draco.
Well, He didn’t really. Just because Draco is gay doesn't mean he likes everyone of the same gender.
Harry coughed awkwardly, “So- Uh, Any guys then?” He didn’t want Draco to feel like he was prying too much, because he definitely wasn’t. He was just making small talk with a friend. Obviously.
Draco blushed heavily and turned away, “Uh- yeah. There is one. But he doesn’t like me back. I accepted that fact a long time ago”
Harry huffed quietly to himself, cursing at the fact he asked Draco if he liked someone because of course, he liked someone. Someone who was probably cooler than him and smarter than him. But he couldn’t get upset about that fact, Draco would get suspicious.
“Well, he must be an idiot then, If he doesn’t like you. You’re amazing. Anyone would be lucky to be with you. If he were me I wouldn’t make that mistake,” Harry rambled, his words tumbling out faster than he could process them.
Draco froze, turning to Harry slowly, “...pardon?”
Harry paused, looking at him confused, “what?”
“Say that again?"
“If he were me…” Harry blushed brightly, finally comprehending what he had said. He had totally flubbed it. He got away with it before but it really couldn’t be taken back now. Draco was going to hate him.
Draco reached towards Harry, and placed a hand on his shoulder, “Harry, do you.. Like me?”
Harry hung his head, resigned to rejection, “Um. Yeah. I like you. You’re hardworking and hard-headed and kind and- yeah. I like you, Draco.”
He didn’t want to look at him. He didn’t want to see the look on Draco's face. He knew he wouldn't be disgusted as he was gay, but there was still a chance.
Suddenly, he was pulled into a tight hug. Harry blinked in surprise, trying to look up at Draco, but being unable to, due to Draco's face being buried in his hair.
“I like you too, Harry.”
What. Harry gasped, pushing Draco away slightly, “You what?”
Draco huffed when Harry pushed him away, “Harry, You’re the boy I like, the one who apparently does like me back.”
Harry's jaw dropped in shock, “Oh. Okay. Yeah, I like you, Draco. I have since April at least.”
Draco laughed at Harry's blunt acceptance, “Goodness, you're so Gryffindor, but I suppose we’re both dense. I’ve liked you for... Longer than I can remember, honestly.”
“Well, yeah, I confessed to you ten minutes ago, you are dense,” Harry muttered but squawked slightly when Draco grasped him by the waist and pulled him in close.
“I just said that, so you don't need to repeat it. But let's try this again. Harry Potter, will you be my boyfriend?” Draco said softly, leaning down to be closer to eye level with Harry.
Harry smirked, letting Draco's breath fan over his face, “Absolutely. That means you’ll kiss me, right?” He could hardly hold himself back, his arms quickly finding their place on Draco's shoulders.
Draco chuckled at his ask, leaning down and connecting their lips together.
Harry smiled into the kiss, pulling Draco closer to him. This was something he could absolutely get used to. Even after they grow out of their horny teenager phase.
Suddenly, Harry heard his name being called, followed by Draco's.
He pulled away, turning his head towards the source of the noise. Draco turned too, letting go of Harry in favour of grasping one of his hands, and threading their fingers together.
Harry heard his name again, this time clearly being called by Ron, and then Draco's name being called by Hermione.
He turned towards Draco, smiling up at him with a little trace of melancholy, “I guess we have to go now.”
“Where we go, we go together?”
“Yeah. I like that, just the right amount of sentimentality.”
And as they ran towards their friends' voices, Harry didn't glance back once.