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Draco doesn’t know his life has come to this. But if he is completely honest with himself? He doesn’t mind it at all.
They were at a Gala at the ministry, many purebloods using the opportunity to flaunt their wealth as per usual. Draco was no exception, but at least he was subtle about it. There were people here who were peacocking and even he was getting annoyed. Since the end of the war, people seemed to be posturing more.
Thankfully, after the war, Harry stepped in for him and his mother during their trials. Neither ended up in Azkaban, hell nothing happened to them. Some people treated them differently, but for the most part, they were treated normally.
So Draco made it an active effort to help Harry out whenever he needed it. When they went back for their final year, he would hide Harry in the library and scare everyone off when it became too much.
When they got out, every time Harry went to Diagon Alley, he would duck into the apothecary Draco owned and hide behind the counter to get away from fans.
There were many more incidents. Sometimes long nights with them talking everything out and finally coming to an understanding. Their playground bullying and fights would have been left behind, but they had too much fun arguing with one another.
“You know, this would all stop if you just used a glamour.” Draco drawled, going through his accounts.
“You know, all this would stop if people didn’t suck.” Harry snapped back, slightly mocking with his tone.
“Oh? Giving attitude? Fine, how about I just open the door and say you're in here?” He smirked, looking down at the other man crouched beside him.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Hary glared right back.
“Oh, but darling.” Draco crouched down beside him, an easy grin in place as he tapped the shorter man's chin. “I would.”
“Right,” Harry suddenly smirked. “Then do it.”
Draco blinked at him, a chuckle slipping out. Harry knew he would never put him in that position and he was calling him out on it. Draco gently brushed the fringe off the other man's forehead, loving playing with the messy locks.
“Fine, you know I won’t. But you should figure out something, it’s getting a little ridiculous that you have to hide every time you come here.” He stood back up and got back to what he was doing.
“I know, but I just want to be left alone for once.” Harry curled in on himself.
“Oh, darling.” He crouched back down and cupped his cheek. “That will never happen. Not only did you defeat the Dark Lord, but you are also very handsome.”
He smirked at the slowly reddening cheeks of the other, gently rubbing his cheek as he seemed to settle down again. Harry sighed and leaned into the touch, making the blonde’s heart squeeze from how trusted he is.
Draco’s eye caught Pansy, who looked very pissed off. Getting curious, he excused himself from the group he was conversing with and made his way over to her. Before he got there, he followed her line of sight and saw her husband very obviously flirting with another woman. He swiped a couple of champagne flutes and crossed the last few steps to her.
“I still say divorce,” He passes a glass over to her.
“Honestly, at this point? First thing in the morning.” She seethed, tossing back the glass and downing it in one go. Draco simply takes the empty one from her and passes the one he grabbed for himself.
“Why wait,” he nods over to the other side of the room. “The lawyer mother used is here.”
“Huh,” she looked at him appraisingly. “You know what? I’ll do it.” She shoved the drink back at him before sauntering off.
“What did you say to her?” Blaise comes up behind him and steals the glass he just got back.
“Told her to not wait on divorcing the slimy git.” They watched her approach the man and give a pleasant introduction.
“Smart, I don’t know why she ever married him.” He shook his head.
“Her father arranged it,” He shrugged. “She felt it was the only offer she would ever get.”
“And yet, Theo was waiting for her.” Blaise rolls his eyes.
“Pining fools,” He snickers.
“Pot meet kettle,” Blaise drawled.
“Excuse you, I am not pining.” He scoffed.
“Oh really? So you aren’t waiting for the day for Potter to notice you?”
“No,” and that wasn’t a lie.
“Sure,” he gave the blonde a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “I see we are still in the denial stage.”
“Oh, Blaise. There is no denial stage.” Draco looked over and saw Harry had branched off from his friends to talk to the minister. He felt a small smile tug onto his face, remembering how far the Gryffindor had come.
“Ron and Hermione don’t understand. I do not want to fight anymore.” Harry sniffled. “I have told them I want to drop out of Auror training every time and they somehow convince me to stay.”
“It’s like no one cares that I have fought for almost all of my life and now I just want peace.” Draco reached forward and took the glass of firewhisky from him.
“I know, darling. But you do know you do not have to listen to them.” He scooted closer to the smaller man on the couch, wrapping an arm around him. Harry practically melted into his hold, basking in the warmth Draco was giving him.
“Why does no one else understand?” He whispered.
“Because people will always want to mould you into what they believe you should be.” The Malfoy Lord ran his fingers through his hair, trying to calm him down. “But Harry, you do not have to live according to their wishes. What do you want to do?”
“I-I don’t know.” He sounded so heartbroken.
“Alright, then quit training and take a break. It will come to you eventually.” He glared at the knot he was trying to work out of the brown locks. “Not like you even need the income.”
“I’m going to become lazy because of you.” Harry chuckled. “Are you trying to make me an invalid?”
“Oh no, you figured out my scheme,” Draco replied, completely monotone.
“Arse,” he finally moved from his arms, making Draco feel cold. “Thank you.”
“Potter, stop thanking me for doing barely anything.” He scoffed, rolling his eyes. The other man didn’t believe it for a second though, knowing it was just an act.
“Right, not pining?” Blaise teased.
“Like I said before, no.” Draco smirked. Just then, Draco noticed someone approaching a now alone Harry. He scowled when he realised it was that weasel James Norton. The man was adored by many women, but he kept approaching Harry for his money.
He wasn’t ashamed to admit having looked into the man, he wanted to keep Harry safe and happy. So when he found out that the man and his family were in severe debt while flaunting wealth they didn’t have, he knew what he was after.
“Excuse me,” Draco said without thought as he made his way over. He heard Blaise laughing behind him, but ignored it.
“-believe we should get drinks after this.” Norton smirked, sliding closer to the brunette.
“Oh, um-” Harry started but stopped when Draco wrapped an arm around his waist.
“Finished with the minister?” Draco hums, kissing his temple.
“Yeah,” Harry beamed up at the blonde. “He wanted me to meet a few Aurors.”
“Snuck out of that, did you?” He chuckled, finally glancing at the man across from them. “Oh, apologies. I didn’t notice you there.”
“Yes, well. You did interrupt our conversation.” He seemed flustered at first but quickly slid back into that stuck-up mask.
“Can you blame me? I bring him to an event and barely even see him for the night. Sometimes I get a little hasty, so I do apologise.” Draco smiles at him, pulling Harry closer into his side.
“Oh,” he looked like a fish out of water. “You two are…”
“I thought everyone knew.” Draco blinks innocently. “Darling, wasn’t there an article about it a month ago?”
“Mhmm,” Harry hums, smiling up at Draco. The blonde blinks, the fake innocence slipping off and being replaced by a soft, fond look.
“Apparently, I have bewitched you.” Draco drawled, skimming through the paper in his hand.
“Is that what we’re calling it? I thought it was pestering.” Harry snickered from his spot on the floor. He had taken it upon himself to organise the papers on the blonde’s desk.
“From what I remember, you always came to me.” He said smugly, chuckling at the pout it brought to the shorter man's lips.
“I was hiding! You’re just as bad as your godfather and scare people!” Harry paused, looking horrified at what he said.
“Yes, well I did learn from the best.” He shrugged, hiding his smile behind the paper at Harry’s relieved look.
“You know he enjoyed pissing me off, right?” Harry snickered.
“Yes, well I share that amusement.” He set the paper down and walked around the counter.
“You Slytherins are just pricks.” He huffs.
“Well, by the sounds of it, mine must have enchanted you.” Draco gives up on the paper and sits down beside the Gryffindor. “You’ve already done a large part of this. How about we get some takeout from that Indian place by your flat?”
“What about-” Harry perked up, but was cut off.
“Yes, we can also grab churros.” Draco picked up the papers in front of the other man before putting them back in his drawer.
“Well, if this is how it is, I’m glad I’m enchanted.” Harry looped his arm through Draco’s, squeezing into his side.
“And we're sure I’m not the one who’s enchanted?” Draco asks later that night, Harry’s got his feet in the blonde’s lap, massaging them.
“Are you tired?” He whispers, brushing some of the brown locks away from his face.
“Yeah,” Harry cuddles in. “Are you good to go?”
“As long as you are. I don’t need to posture like some of these imbeciles.” Draco kisses his forehead sweetly.
“Kay, I just want to go home and sleep.” Harry preened at the attention. Draco chuckled when he saw flashes going off, knowing they were being photographed.
“Have you eaten at all?” Draco started pulling Harry away, smirking at the dumbstruck fool they left behind.
“Thai?” Harry looks up at him, the sweetest smile on his face.
“Sounds good, darling.” Draco smiled at him, leaning down to finally kiss the shorter man. He grinned into the kiss, knowing Harry's hand on his chest is showing off the ring he gave to him earlier that day.
“Smug Slytherin,” Harry muttered against his lips. “I want ice cream as well.”
“Anything you want, love.”