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At the latch of the door, Harry stopped breathing—the room utterly silent.
Wands raised in tandem pointed at the boy who had entered. Students shot glances at one another in shock, confusion….fear. But Harry's lack of reaction stayed their hands. Only the echoes of breathing rang out against the walls.
It was Neville who spoke first. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"
They knew Hermione's magic was absolute. No one without genuine intent to learn from Harry could enter the Room of Requirement. Why on earth would that be...Malfoy?
"You ca-me." Harry's voice cracked and he cleared his throat. "You came," he said a bit deeper.
"I'm confused," said Seamus, lowering his wand. "You...you invited him? Here?! He's one of them!"
Draco glared at the boy. "Them, is it?" he sneered.
Everyone looked on in horror as Harry walked toward the blonde, halting a strides length away. "But you're….not."
Draco looked away. "I'm here aren't I? But if you're absolute rubbish I'm leaving."
Harry smiled. "I think you already know that I know what I'm doing, Draco."
Draco's cheeks pinked.
“Harry, what is going on?!” sputtered Ron.
“He’s here to learn,” said Harry, smirking.
“Oh my God,” gasped Hermione. “Are you two….friends?”
The whole room exploded in an uproar: “What? No way.”—“Harry would never!”—“Don’t be daft!”—"Malfoy, are you fucking kidding?”
Harry ignored his fellow D.A. members, not caring in the least what they said. He knew it was a risk, knew they’d protest, misunderstand. He reached out a hand to Draco, who looked at it with hesitation.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Harry whispered. “You knew that.”
Draco’s steely gaze met Harry’s, anxious and unsure.
“This was a bad idea,” he breathed, turning toward the door.
Harry closed the distance, wrapping his arms around Draco’s waist. “You can do this. I believe in you.”
Draco relaxed against Harry’s embrace. A few girls gasped.
“I don't belong here.”
"What about with me?"
Draco whirled around. "That has nothing—"
Harry kissed him. "Now do it."
Draco raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum!"
The room went silent as the corporeal doe emerged.