Chapter Text
It wasn't till two days later that Harry worked up the resolve to check on Draco again. He had been busy anyway, and the blond still hadn't left the hospital ward as far as he knew. It wasn't like he was just going to disappear randomly, Potter mused, walking in the large room. His eyes bulged when he found it empty.
Harry looked around the room wide eyed, no soul or blanket mound in sight. He was on the verge of a heart attack.
Had he gotten better? Had he gotten worse? Had he been sent back to Malfoy manor? Was he sent to a better hospital? Was he- he couldn’t be-
The door to the nurse’s office opened and Malfoy stepped through. Harry let out an audible breath of relief, the other looking towards him at the sound. His eyes were vibrant and lustrous like unicorn’s blood, but his skin was as white as it had been the day Harry had found him breaking down in Myrtle's bathroom. A wave of guilt hit him at the memory, flashes of the other laying in a pool of blood as the one before him smiled kindly in greeting. Potter swallowed and nodded with a sheepish smile as Draco walked over back to his designated bed. He was dressed in his sleeping robes, and despite spending the last two days resting, he still had lavender bags under his eyes.
"Potter." Draco greeted courtly, voice so quiet he only understood by the movement of his lips.
"Malfoy." Harry replied in turn, feeling a wall of formality suddenly form between them. Draco wore his usual neutral visage, nose tilted up ever so slightly as he sat with his hands resting in his lap. Harry sighed and put his in his pockets, coming into contact with a glass vial and remembering how he'd convinced himself to come face the other.
"Um." Harry held out the vial of viscous reddish-hazel potion, passing it over to the other. Draco hesitated but took it, seeming to recognize the honey-like liquid.
"Nutrients potion?" Harry nodded.
"It, um, can be diluted with water, so you can drink it easier." The dark-haired wizard replied, struggling to look at the other.
"You bought this for me?" His quiet voice was not as scratchy as it had been, which lead him to believe at least the other was healing. It didn't make him feel any less awkward though.
"Made it. Don't worry, Hermione checked it." He absently scratched the healing incisions he had gotten from collecting the tumtum nuts needed from deep in the forbidden forest. Hermione had managed to remove the poison from the thorn wounds, thankfully.
Malfoy noticed the movement and the scratches, giving him a surprised look.
"You gathered the ingredients yourself?" Harry nodded as the other looked closer at his hand, realizing the scars written in his skin.
'Not tell lies?' He mouthed the words he could see and sent him a questioning look. The teen quickly shoved it back in his pocket.
"Just a-ur, gift from Umbridge." Draco looked torn at this, turning away.
"Thanks." He looked down at the vial in his hands, before taking a water cup from the bedside and adding a few drops. The potion gathered like oil before slowly spreading, leaving the drink a pale peach colour. He downed the tall drink in a few long gulps, liquid droplets running down from the corner of his lip to slide over his soft, markable neck. Harry swallowed as he watched, the other taking a long breath once he was done, light eyelashes fluttering and lips moist.
Draco coughed lightly and Potter was immediately at his side, rubbing his back with a concerned expression. The blond blushed and sent him a coy smile in thanks.
Harry was quite certain it wasn't healthy the way his heart leapt into his throat towards the other. Man, he was so screwed.
s
"Mr Malfoy, returning to classes I see." Slughorn announced happily as the blond teen entered Potions later than most. Harry's eyes immediately turned to the Slytherin, beaming at the coy pureblood he hadn't been able to get off his mind. He smiled back gently, taking a seat at the back of the class besides a large Gryffindor who glared and shuffled away. Harry frowned as Slughorn began his instructions. He caught a few words about the importance of precision in stirring in this particular potion, focusing, staying on task, not blowing it up (he assumed that was pointed at Nevil), but he was too busy looking back at Draco unpack. He caught Harry's eye a second and immediately shifted his gaze to the board, pretending not to notice.
"Mr Potter," Slughorn called for his attention as he finished his directions.
"Hmm?" The dark-haired teen turned to the front, a quiet titter or two following.
"Would you perhaps like to partner with Mr Malfoy?" He offered sarcastically with a smile, but Harry's eyes only lit up.
"U-uh yeah-sure." He stood without turning back to look at Ron, the entire class watching with shock as he went to sit beside Draco, the large boy all too happy to swap places. The blond stood taller with his nose up, trying to appear unfazed as the other joined him.
The class moved into action, collecting ingredients and appropriately sized caldrons. The Gryffindor went to collect the equipment, watching as Draco went rummaging for the components. The blond wasn't as pale as before at least, and the bags under his eyes had gone. Still he wasn't convinced the other was in good enough health, especially since it was only his first day attending classes again.
He made his way back to the table and lit the caldron, looking up to see Draco returning with an arm full of vials. A passing student bumped him with her hip and he faltered, one of the vials falling from his hold. He cringed, waiting for it to smash against the ground, but it never did. The Slytherin peaked an eye open to find it levitating, Harry's wand extended towards the bottle. He gently coaxed it over to the table as Draco gave him a thankful smile.
"So umm... What are we making?" The blond stared at him with disbelief, before shaking his head with an almost fond smile. He pointed to his open potions book, the recipe for a courage elixir on it crisp, fresh pages. Harry pulled out his own book and opened to the correct page, placing his own tattered, noted book over it. Draco looked miffed at first, going to pull the old book away. He gently rested a hand on the others wrist, stopping his hand.
"It's Professor Snape's old book." He explained, the Pureblood’s eye's widening.
"Snape?" He mouthed, voice a sad whisper. Harry nodded as the blond appeared nostalgic, gently trailing a finger over the stained pages.
"You and Snape were close." He commented, making the other nod. "Family friend?" He nodded again, not meeting his eyes. It seemed as though he was about to say something, or at least mouth it, but Slughorn saw fit to interrupt as he walked past their table.
"Get started please, you're going to need every second for this potion." Harry quickly made to look as though he was inspecting ingredients. "Be sure to read any warnings" The Potion Master reminded. Snape had highlighted and underlined the warning, written in small lettering down the bottom left corner of the page. 'Beware: this potion may cause urges of bravery whilst brewing, testing by scent is not recommended.' It always baffled him why they kept the warnings in such small font. One of the recipes he'd come across even had a 'death by ingestion', so small he wouldn’t have seen it if it hadn't been underlined by his old professor- and that had just been a potion for bad rashes.
Harry quickly skimmed the writing, readying to a pour in a jug of water. Draco's thin hands suddenly shook about in the air, shocking him into stopping. He looked panicked, pointing down at the book where it had written 'heat lion's urine to boiling point before adding water'.
"Oh." The black-haired wizard said, putting down the jug. "Um, maybe you should tell me what to do." Draco sighed in a relived fashion and passed him the urine, indicating for him to slowly pour. The blond would read ahead and pass him the correct ingredient, cutting up what was needed and motioning how many stirs where instructed. His hands were shaky, probably from lack of proper food, so he thought it better the other handle the ladle, but he watched with an eagle eye. Sometimes he’d stop him when he went to stir too many times, or he’d slow his pace by placing a hand on the other’s and carefully guiding it.
As the lesson wore on Draco became more confident with his instructions, daring to glare playfully if he went to stray from commands. Harry had begun almost adding the wrong ingredient just to spite the other, laughing as he snatched it from his grasp and gently hit his shoulder. Whenever he was forced to speak for specific instruction or the rare request for his opinion on Snape's notes contesting the book, which Harry always replied to trust what was handwritten, his voice was near silent. As the voices around them rose, people’s courage growing, he had to lean in close just to hear, the other's soft breath tickling his ear.
"So, what were you going to say earlier?" Harry asked as he slowly stirred clockwise. Draco tilted his head slightly with furrowed brows, encouraging him to elaborate. "About the book?" The blond made an 'o', bobbing his head and looking at the book. He focused on the potion’s instructions a few moments before his gaze flickered back to the Gryffindor, scolding him with a look for concentrating on him and not the elixir. Harry turned to the caldron and stayed quiet, allowing the other to reply in his own time.
"Snape was my godfather." He whispered quietly, chin barely resting on Harry's shoulder.
"Oh..." The wizard replied. Well now the favouritism definitely made sense. "I'm sorry." He pulled the ladle from the pot and let it drip thrice in the centre, before resting it across the top. Draco shrugged, pulling away and not looking at him. He leant over the other to inspect the potion’s colour, nodding with satisfaction. Harry had to hold his own twitching hand down to stop from touching the other. He smelled amazing- like hair gel and apple cider. The potion may have been encouraging him to get a little closer than socially acceptable and take in a nose full. Luckily Draco either didn't notice or didn't mind.
In Harry's mind it was suddenly sixth year all over again, drowning in the other’s scent.
The blond grinned triumphantly as he added the last ingredient, a sprig of holly. The mixture slowly turned a blood red after one stir. The steam rising from the now bubbling solution was overwhelming, to the point he couldn't ignore the thoughts swimming in his head. He wanted to snog the other- wanted to snog the other stupid right then and there. He watched the blond reread the noted books instructions, ensuring they'd missed nothing. He began to compare his and Snape's, taking out a quill and copying the notes in delicate, curling script. His liquid-mercury eyes were completely focused on the buckling pages.
Harry couldn't take it anymore. He took the other's wrist, drawing his attention as the Gryffindor readied to speak.
"All right class," Slughorn interrupted, making Harry groan, "Time's up. Leave your pots to cool and I'll collect samples to grade later." He announced, most looking up at the clock in shock. Time had flown by, and many hadn't even finished their potions.
Draco had slipped out of Potter's hold and was packing away his things, before standing and blowing out the caldron flame with a flick of his wand.
"Hey," Harry sat on his stool looking up to the other, potions book in hand. "You wanna borrow it?" Draco seemed shocked at the suggestion, as if the volume was a priceless relic. "I only need it in class really, you can copy down Snape's notes." The blond looked... touched, or at least the closest Harry had ever seen him to it. He nodded and took the offered hardcover, whispering a thank you as he lovingly drew his finger over the loosening binds. The Slytherin gave him one last smile before he left, Harry's eyes ever following.
The supportive pressure of Ron's hand rested on his shoulder, the redhead sending him a supportive smile to awaken him from his stupor before dragging him to their next class.
s
"I'm sorry." He didn't feel he could ever apologize enough.
"It's okay Harry. I'm not upset with you for not being ready for this." He wasn't sure being ready was the problem, but arguing with the girl he had just broken up with didn't seem like the best idea. Thankfully there had only been a few tears, and no screaming or throwing. "It hasn't even been a year since the war. We all need time to recover. I know you've been avoiding people, but please don't lock us out. We're here for you." Ginny assured, placing a hand on his knee.
They sat in a quiet corner of the library, a rather selfish tactic on Harry's part to avoid any possibly loud and negative reactions to what he needed to say.
Harry smiled and nodded.
"I love you Gin, I'm just not in love with you anymore."
"I know." She sniffled, still recovering. "Just... try think of me like a sister, Merlin knows I don't need another brother, but we're family."
"Thanks Gin." The two hugged tightly, Ginevra lightly kissing his cheek before she stood.
"Well, I'm off to go eat the type of chocolate that doesn't run away from you." She said with a forced smile, Harry laughing lightly as she left.
All in all it hadn't been as bad as he thought. Of course, he had left out a few things- being in love with Malfoy for instance- but he figured he could fill her in on those particular details at a later date, once the wound had healed.
"That went well." Harry turned his head in surprise at the unexpected voice. There stood Hermione, a large book in her hands.
"You were listening?"
"I was reading in the next bookshelf over. I just checked to make sure things were going okay every few sentences." She sat beside him on the bench where Ginny had been not long ago. They stayed quiet a few moments, the girl seeming to be considering what to say.
"You did the right thing, Harry."
"Thanks." He replied, looking at the shelves in the distance.
"Now you just need to tell him." Harry's eye's popped.
"Tell who?"
"I'm not stupid Harry." Of everyone he knew that best. They had a staring contest of sorts, a battle of wills until the dark-haired Gryffindor sighed, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes.
"I know. I just... What if he doesn't feel the same?" It took her a moment to reply.
"Would you rather know he doesn't, or keep wondering if he does?" Merlin, he hated it when she said wise things.
"Come on Harry," Hermione whispered, "where's that Gryffindor bravery gone?" He rubbed his scar- a nervous habit- before putting his glasses back on.
"What about Ron? How do I tell him I'm... Bisexual?"
"He'll be fine with it, Charlie came out recently remember." Harry nodded, thinking it over. "But... it's Malfoy." She gently placed her hand on the troubled teen’s.
"No Harry- It's Draco."
s
It was late afternoon on a Friday by the time he was finally ready. Well, as ready as he could be. It was almost a week since he'd broken up with Ginny, so of course the entire Wizarding World already knew. Ron had been surprisingly supportive, even when Draco's name was finally said, promising to be there for him no matter what 'the cat-snake’ said.
Harry took a deep breath, watching from a distance as Draco studied up a tree by the lake. He was alone, no one to be seen. Now was the perfect time. The closer he came he could see the book the other was so focused on that he hadn't noticed his approach was the potions text Harry had lent him. He'd had no need to take it back as of yet, seeing as they were now permanently partnered in the class. He had almost hugged Slughorn in the middle of the lesson when the Slytherin head had told him- apparently they worked well together.
"Hey." Draco's attention sprang to the unexpected visitor, looking down at the nervously smiling teen.
"Potter?" His voice was soft but almost back to it’s full volume, the only reminder of how he had found the other bruised and broken. It made him want to wrap the other up in his arm's, safe where no one could hurt someone so precious.
The black-haired teen climbed up the tree to seat himself before the other, comfortably nestled close on forked branches next to the tree’s trunk. Their knees were pressed together, neither making to remove the contact. Harry looked around casually as the other eyed him curiously.
"Soo... You free to talk?" The other’s thinned his eyes, seeming worried.
"Yeah?"
"It's nothing bad!" He quickly assured, glad that the blond immediately let out a breath of relief and shut his book.
"What's up?"
"I..." Think I'm totally head over heels in love with you and want to run away to make babies till the day we die? Something told him the other may not take well to that particular confession. "I, want you to know... that I care about you. Not in a friend way, but not in a not friend way either!" He quickly corrected as the other looked hurt. "In a, sort of... more, than friend way." Draco's eyes widened and Harry couldn't look at him, feeling year of emotions bubble to the surface. "I know we've never gotten along before this but we were stupid kids, I was a stupid kid, and even then I could never get you out of my head! You're all I think about, you’re in my dreams! All I want to do is be with you, just to talk to you and spend time with you and-" hold you, kiss you, love you till our balls are empty. Harry swallowed, feeling he should stop before that sentence went too far. He was already coming off weird, no need to come off perverted too. "a-and even though... if you don't feel the same, that's okay... but I need you to know-" He took a deep breath and finally looked up. "I'm crazy about you."
Draco sat in paralysed shock, staring at the other in disbelief. Suddenly his eyes began to water, and a tear slid from the corner. His bottom lip began to shake, and Harry began to panic. He didn't have much time to do so when he suddenly found himself struggling not to fall out the tree, a crying blond in his arms. Harry swallowed the moment he balanced himself, gently wrapping his arms around the other. It felt... right, besides the crying. He wasn't exactly sure how to stop that, but did his best gently hushing the other and sliding his finger's comfortingly through his silk hair. It was even softer than he'd imagined.
The teen had his head burrowed in Harry's chest, sobbing quietly and gripping his robes. The Gryffindor still wasn't sure if this was a bad or good sign.
Finally after a few sniffles the other lifted his head, the teen legend surprised to find the other grinning, tears still sliding down his face. The Slytherin wiped away his tears sheepishly, still held in the Seeker's arms.
"I-I love you." Harry's spirits flew. "I always have." The blond admitted, smiling coyly.
"Always?" The pureblood laughed quietly, wrapping his arms around the Gryffindor's neck.
"Always." The sun set through the trees casting a kaleidoscope of peach hues, framing the two's silhouette as their lips finally touched. It appeared that Draco's felt it was time for an overdue long, wet, make out, and Harry was more than happy to comply.