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Draco truly never believed that he would meet his soulmate. He wasn’t lying when he told Harry, his recently boyfriend-turned-ex that he did not have plans to find her, because if he had to spend his entire life with someone else. Harry Potter was probably the best person to spend it with. Harry was the nicest person in the entire world, patient and wasn’t a gold digger, unlike those who he met. His parents never approved of him, not because he wasn’t his soulmate, it wasn’t a common thing any longer was what they said (despite the fact that they were indeed soulmates) but that he was low-class, no money and a broke university student. They could care less if Harry wasn’t his soulmate, they only cared about his status and wealth. But he never listened to them, risking even his heirship.
However, as seemingly stable as their relationship was. There was always something awkward, like the fact that other than the Harry now, Draco did not know much about him. He knew that he lost his parents at a young age and was given to his aunt, but after that, not much. He had nightmares, which he often got around autumn. He also avoided visiting Surrey, scared of being chased and was even scared of someone cutting his hair.
He wanted to help, but he didn’t know how. Draco knew there was trauma somewhere there, people couldn’t be scared of someone cutting his hair for him for no reason whatsoever. Suggesting therapy just made it worse, Harry just refused to attend any sessions and he had to eventually give up. If he kept purchasing expensive therapy sessions, that Harry refuses to go anyway, they wouldn’t be able to pay the bills.
That was the most difficult and long-lasting issue they had. An issue that they could have gotten over but Draco was prideful and the fact that he couldn’t get him to open up hurt his ego. It made him feel absolutely worthless. They had arguments about it often, they would make up of course but something always felt wrong. Their relationship was like a jigsaw puzzle, every time they had a row, one puzzle piece would disappear never to be seen again.
Only a matter of time before each piece disappears, leading to the relationship becoming irreparable.
They weren’t soulmates, their puzzle piece didn’t fit with each other.
Draco loved Harry, don’t get him wrong but the honeymoon phase would eventually end. And end it, it did once he laid his eyes on him. He became frozen still, unable to tear his gaze from the waiter and his heart pounded loudly against his ears.
Draco knew then. He was his soulmate, the name which was engraved on his wrist ever since his birth. The name which he kept hidden from Harry.
Blaise Zabini
Draco approached him later, unable to control his urge anymore, after excusing himself to the loo. He thought Harry didn’t notice, as smart as he was, sometimes he was just very oblivious. Once Draco started talking to him, all of his worries seemed to disappear out of thin air.
His name was Blaise Zabini.
Neither of the pair couldn’t stop smiling, not even realizing how sore the sides of their mouths were until later. They found each other despite everything.
When he got back, Harry wasn’t there. His smile dropped immediately, he thought he was just in the restroom as well but he felt a knot forming at the pit of his stomach. Draco refused to believe that Harry just left like that, but he did. He didn’t care if it was up to him to pay the bill, he cared because of what Harry must have felt.
How stupid was he to believe that he didn’t notice the aura between him and the waitress he had locked eyes with? How selfish was he?
Draco tried calling him but it always went to voicemail. It was raining, they didn’t bring any umbrellas.
Harry must be outside in the rain, soaked.
However, before he could go through with his plan of going outside after paying (when the only thing they really ordered was water) and search for Harry. A soft hand grabbed his shoulder, flinching he turned to look at the owner. He let out a sigh of relief.
Draco ended up taking him instead for dinner as to not worry him. He didn’t go home, afraid that he would have to confront a maybe-angry Harry. Instead, he rented a hotel room for them both, not really doing anything sexual. Just talking. The joy of finally having his soulmate around him almost made him forget his cowardice.
What an arsehole he was.
He just hoped Harry was fine.
It took a bit of convincing on Tom’s part to get Harry to move in with him. He was definitely not getting controlled by his reasonable desire. It was only natural that he wanted him to stay with him. Harry was his soulmate.
At first, he had to concede to his deal of staying for the night as much as he disliked it. And there he planned because he always gets what he wants, however, the problem was… Harry was ridiculously stubborn, something Tom both despised and admired. No one would dare challenge him, but clearly this one had the nerve and that just made the masochistic part of himself- which was only available for the man apparently- grin in satisfaction.
It took four days, FOUR WHOLE DAYS when he could make any possible business partners tremble in fear in just under 10 minutes.
But it was all worth it. Harry was fun to be around and actually understood his offensive-sarcasm, sometimes even firing back. And Tom wouldn’t be ashamed of admitting that he was usually late for work and even leaves early because of him. Some employees would give him weird looks because he was known for always coming early and always leaving late, but none would voice out their opinion. Who would dare to unless they want to die?
“Tom?” A voice said from behind him, said man immediately turned around to look at Harry. His heart melted almost immediately once his eyes stopped on him. Tom liked decorum and disliked messy things, but he rather adored when he saw Harry, him specifically, with his somehow even messier bed hair and wrinkled clothes.
“Do you need anything?” Tom asks, approaching him and runs his hand through the shorter man’s black hair, unable to control himself.
Oh, who was he kidding… he was totally being controlled by his childish desire of finally having found his soulmate. If he turned whipped all of a sudden, he was sure he wouldn’t mind it much.
“I um- just remembered something,” he says, looking bothered.
“What is it? You can tell me anything.” Or tell on anyone.
“It’s not that bad- it’s just- I forgot files for college at my ex’s house. It’s spring break so it slipped out of my mind- those are really important for my education degree…” Tom frowns then.
He knew Harry didn’t want to go back there, at least not alone… and he couldn’t just refuse to come with him. Especially with that face…
It’s been almost a week, almost a week since he has talked to Harry and asking Blaise to move in with him for it was terribly lonesome in the house with nothing but the eerie silence accompanying him.
And it’s been three days since he found the passive-aggressive note, which was written in Harry’s familiar handwriting, on the table with the keys to the house holding it steady.
When he got home the next morning. His heart was pounding viciously against his ribcage as uneasiness took over his whole body. He was nervous, nervous about meeting Harry and the time they’d talk. But when he opened the door to their shared home, it was completely barren and empty, devoid of any living things.
Hi Draco! Here’s the key to your house. Don’t feel bad (if you even felt bad) cause nothing bad happened to me thankfully. If you thought I didn’t notice, surprise surprise I did. Hope you have a good life with him!
P.S: DON’T COME AND FIND ME
The last sentence had two vicious-looking underline strikes under it. It made him grimace, especially when another note fell out, this time however… the note was written in a completely different handwriting. It was all in cursive, almost calligraphy-like, reminiscing him of those kinds of letters that were sent a long time ago. Though, unlike them, this one was a lot more understandable.
The contents of it made him frown but Draco had to admire the skill put into the writing.
“Whoever you are Draco. Don’t you dare show your face to Harry again.” And under it was a signature- well, it was more like initials than anything. T.M.R
The initials looked familiar then, but who was he thinking of? He wasn’t even sure if he really wanted to know but who was this guy to Harry?
Draco checked the bedroom and closet but other than his clothes, there was no sign of him as if he vanished just like that.
Where did he go? It wasn’t like he had any money, he was a broke college student for fuck’s sake!
Then the initials came back to him. Did the mysterious T.M.R person help him? But why?
Turning to look at his peripheral vision, he found a stack of files, notes, books and USBs that belonged to Harry. Weren’t those important for him?
Draco went for his phone and called him, only to find out that his number had been blocked. He understood if Harry hated him, but he at least wanted to return the files to him. He knew how important they were to students with his degree.
This repeated for a few days until a knock on the door was heard.
Both him and Blaise looked at each other, confused, they weren’t expecting any visitors.
The dark-skinned man stood up and decidedly took it upon himself to answer the door. Draco just stared at him, biting his lip. Blaise seemed to freeze up, who was it?
He was about to stand up but heard the familiar voice. “Oh, hi, you must be Draco’s soulmate!” He too froze up then flinched when he caught sight of a taller man behind Harry.
Is… is that… is that TOM RIDDLE????
All blood drained from his face as Blaise, with some hesitance and a glance at Riddle, let them in.
Draco stared at the tall, intimidating and terrifying Tom Riddle Jr in bewilderment, who gave him the same look but instead of being curious, his eyes spoke murder. His eyebrows furrowed in contemplation, surely thinking about if he should castrate Draco or not.
He’s scared.
“Ehm… long time no see Draco.” Harry starts, awkwardly looking at him.
Really, where and when did these two meet? They were the complete opposites, even when they were literally standing beside each other. The couple (?) oozed completely different auras which contrasted each other.
Silence reigned over them, but neither Harry nor Riddle seemed to affected,
“Tom, this is my ex, Draco-”
The two are even on a first name basis! What the heck!
“Harry, introductions are barely needed. I know him.” He finally says, his expression finally contorting into a displeased scowl. Harry looked at him in surprise.
“You do? How?” He asks, completely oblivious to the fact that he was angry.
Was he suicidal? No one would dare talk and ask questions when he was like that!
Surprisingly, Riddle didn’t do anything but explain with no irritation to be found. “Draco Malfoy is his name, right? His grandfather, Abraxas Malfoy is working for me as my secretary. His father, Lucius Malfoy, should replace him a few months from now I’m guessing.”
“Huh, wow. I guess this is a small world after all…” Harry says to no one in particular.
“Of course it is, despite the fact that there are billions of people existing. You still found me.”
Draco had a feeling that they were flirting with each other, but something about that made him uncomfortable. Not jealous, just uncomfortable.
Harry grins, letting the red hue of an oncoming blush take over his face. “Well, that’s true. Two pairs of people in the same country and city found their soulmate.”
“Wait a minute, you’re soulmates?!?!?”
Tom just sneers and lifted Harry’s chin, showing his name engraved on his neck in cursive black ink. Then his soul mark, on his shoulder.
Harry couldn’t stop laughing at the other’s pair’s faces.
“Does Malfoy not know? Hasn’t he seen your soul mark before?” Tom asks.
“No, I haven’t seen his either. We had an agreement about not seeing each other’s soul mark.” Harry says. “Anyway, since you know my soulmate. Who’s this?” He asks then, looking at the stranger who let them in.
“Uh- I’m Blaise Zabini, Draco’s soulmate.” He introduces himself, impressively not stuttering from Tom’s scrutinizing gaze.
“Nice to meet you Zabini,” Harry says with no malice whatsoever. Oh, he was angry, but not at this guy. He was mad at Draco. Why be angry at someone who really had nothing to do with him?
“Harry… are you here for your books?” Draco finally asks and that reminded Harry of the reason why they were there in the first place.
“Oh right- I should really get on that-” Harry laughs, going towards their room with Tom at his tail, not even letting the other soulmate pair say anything more.
It barely took five minutes before they were out of there. Mainly because Tom didn’t want to stay any longer. He held most of his things on one hand while his other was around Harry’s wrist, dragging him.
“Apologies for our rudeness, but seeing as our business is done here. We should really get going.”
However, they were barely out of the door when Draco, impulsively, grabs Harry’s shoulder. Tom glared at the hand, which he moved as if burned.
“Harry, I’m sorry.”
Tom huffs, “as you should-” Harry dug his elbow into his soulmate’s side, preventing him from being ruder, which was very successful.
He forced a smile on his face, it was a strained smile. Clearly fake and insincere. Draco felt shivers down his spine.
“Give me a few years to think about it,” Harry says so simply, his voice wasn’t raised nor did it hold any anger.
Draco just smiles guiltily, watching the two disappear into the street.
He expected that response, yet it still hurt him.