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“Um Harry?” Hermione asks as Harry walks into the Transfiguration classroom. Him, Hermione, and Ron usually meet there early during lunch to get away from the Great Hall and have a few minutes before everyone else joins.
Harry places his books on his desk, “Yes Hermione?”
“How come you’re wearing a Slytherin tie?” Ron’s looking at him now too and mutters a ‘bloody hell.’ Harry looks down immediately and panics. He is indeed wearing a Slytherin tie. And if he’s wearing a Slytherin tie then that mean-
“Shit!” The brunette runs out of the room and up the hall towards the Charms classroom which is located on the floor above. He thankfully doesn’t run into anyone on his way but he wraps his robes around him tightly just in case. He’s relieved to see Draco standing outside the classroom alone with his head in a book. “Malfoy!” He shouts as he runs up to him.
Draco looks up at him curiously and then his grey eyes widen and he looks down at his own tie. Draco utters some curse words Harry can’t hear and then starts walking into an alcove a few meters away and tugs on the Gryffindor tie around his neck.
“How the bloody hell did neither of us notice?” Draco complains as he hands Harry the tie and Harry hands him his.
“I don’t know, Hermione pointed it out. Thankfully I don’t think anyone else has seen.”
“Granger is a genius, she will figure it out in a matter of seconds. I’d be surprised if she didn’t already know, Oh merlin my father is going to kill me.” Draco’s fingers start shaking around his tie, fumbling the knot.
“Hey,” Harry let’s go of his own tie and reaches out to Draco’s. He starts to tie it for him and says quietly, “It’s going to be okay, Hermione isn’t going to say anything if she has figured it out. And we don’t know that she has. So take a deep breath, we’ll get through this okay?” Harry finishes the blonds tie and then puts a hand on his cheek making Draco look up from his feet at Harry.
“You’re right, it’ll be okay.” But they both know he’s lying. If anyone found out that the two of them were not only shagging but actually properly dating, then Harry doesn’t know what would happen but he’s more than positive it won’t be good. From Lucius Malfoy to the entirety of the wizarding world they wouldn’t be happy with a Death Eaters son and the Chosen one being together.
Harry pulls Draco into a kiss, not a needy rough one like the ones they shared only 20 minutes earlier but a soft gentle one, one that causes Draco to melt a little. When Harry pulls away Draco pouts a little but Harry doesn’t mention it, he feels the same honestly. Harry finishes tying his own tie and then gives Draco one last peck on the lips. “I’ll see you later okay?”
Draco nods and gives Harry a half smile before the two of them walk out of the alcove, grateful that everyone is still at lunch.
Harry goes back down to the Transfiguration classroom where Hermione and Ron are sat chatting in hurried whispers, a few other students in the room already. He takes his seat next to them and he can tell he’s going to get more question than what will be on his O.W.L.S. later so all he says is, “I can’t tell you guys. I’m sorry.” And although neither of his best friends look satisfied with the answer they don’t press him which he’s thankful for.
Minutes later students enter the room and class starts. Harry is grateful for a distraction.
~~~
A couple hours later everyone is in the Great Hall for dinner. Classes went by smoothly although Hermione and Ron would look at him whenever they thought he wasn’t paying attention which annoyed him a bit. However neither of them bring up what happened earlier, in fact for a few minutes it leaves Harry’s thoughts completely. That is until Seamus comes up to them with some hot gossip.
“Did you guys hear that Malfoy was seen wearing a Gryffindor tie earlier?” Harry’s mouth drops open and Ron goes red. Hermione thankfully is able to keep her composure.
“No we did not hear that. That must be embarrassing, any ideas who he got the tie from?” She asks in a tone that sounds almost bored although he knows this cannot possibly be the case.
Seamus sighs, “Nope. No-one has admitted to it yet either. Although could you blame them?”
“Maybe one of his friends dared him to wear the tie?” Ron asks, finally gaining the ability to speak again. “It seems like a devious Slytherin prank, make everyone think he’s shagging a Gryffindor.” Seamus takes a moment to think about it before nodding.
“Although I hate to admit it, you’re probably right.” And with that he walks away.
Harry gulps and looks over to the Slytherin table and he can see Draco looking right back at him. The two stare for a second before the blond turns away to answer whatever Parkinson had just said to him. Harry looks away then too and regrets it. Hermione and Ron are both staring at him and this time he knows he won’t be able to get out of whatever conversation is going to happen.
Unsure of what to do or say Harry looks down at his plate. Harry can hear the sound of the Great Hall dull and he knows Hermione casted a privacy spell so they could talk without anyone overhearing.
“Harry?” She asks and Harry looks up at her.
“Yeah.” Is his only answer. He knows he doesn’t need to specify. He feels guilt, not because he kept who it was, he knows that Draco isn’t ready to come out, but because he didn’t even tell them he’s gay. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys. I just didn’t know how you guys would react to me being gay.” He says the last part to his plate, looking down again.
She lets out a sigh and reaches out across the table to grab his hand. “Harry. You have nothing to be sorry about. Sure, it’s a bit of a surprise but it’s okay. Isn’t it Ronald?”
“Yeah mate, like sure, Malfoy? Really? But we still love you, just because you like blokes won’t change anything.” Ron agrees and wraps an arm around Harry’s shoulder and gives him a little squeeze on the arm.
A few tears fall onto Harry’s plate before he realises he crying and then quickly wipes them away and smiles at his friends. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”
“Oh Harry, it’s going to be okay. Now tell us all about it, how it started.” She smiles at him and gives his hand one last squeeze before she goes back to her dinner. Harry looks up at Draco again and is glad to see that Pansy’s got an arm around his shoulders and he’s smiling.
“Well-“