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June 1999 - Hogwarts
When you know you know.
That’s what they always say right? That when you find the person you’re meant to be with you know they’re the one. You know.
That’s what Harry believed anyways. He knew right from the start that Draco was the one he’s meant to be with. Draco sodding Malfoy. Harry wanted to laugh, the complete unexpected-ness of it all.
When him and Draco started their fooling around in November Harry could hardly believe it, that he could enjoy being around the git, not only that, but that he craved it. That he would think about Draco even when the man wasn’t around, how he would imagine his input into a conversation he’d be having with Ron and Hermione.
He knew that Draco was the one when he couldn’t get him off of his mind, when he was the one he thought about morning, noon, and night.
The two agreed to keep it a secret for the time being, that they didn’t want to possibly ruin what they had going on by the public sharing their constant opinions about it, especially since Harry was more famous than ever.
Not to mention that he hadn’t even come out to anyone. By the way that Ginny would glance at him he had a feeling she knew something, but he didn’t think Hermione and Ron suspected anything, especially not that he was dating Malfoy.
But now it was June 1999 and they were all getting ready to leave Hogwarts for the last time. Headmistress McGonagall and Hermione both insisted that they come back for a proper last year to get their N.E.W.T.’s and Harry could hardly resist the two of them.
It was only a few days before getting their exam results and leaving the castle, and it had become more pressing that Harry tell his friends about all that’s been going on.
Hermione and Ron kept talking about getting a flat with Harry once they graduate and although Harry was very much so in favour, Harry also wanted to live with Draco. He had already asked the blond who was very much surprised and very much so said yes.
So now Harry had to tell his friends.
“Harry?” Hermione asked, taking him out of his thoughts. He let out a hum in response, indicating that he was listening. “You alright there? You’ve been completely out for a few minutes now. Sickle for your thoughts?”
He turned to look at her as they walked. She was holding hands with Ron on her right, Harry on her left. The two were looking at him with a concerned look on their faces as though he had done something out of the ordinary.
“I’m alright, sorry. I was just thinking about the future.” He coughed awkwardly. He wasn’t entirely sure on how he was going to tell them.
“It’ll be great mate! We’ve already been looking at flats and I think we found this bloody brilliant one in south London- not too far from the ministry.” Ron cut in, excitement seeping through his tone.
Harry smiled. He really did want this future with his friends, but he knew that he had to be honest with them first. But it was so damn hard. With Ron excitedly talking about all the fun they’re going to have.
What If they don’t accept him. What if they find out that he’s gay and they’re not okay with it. What then?
Harry stopped walking, his thoughts overwhelming him. “Mate?” Ron asked after a moment, the two noticing that he had stopped.
“I’m gay!” He blurted out and then quickly covered his mouth with his hands. His eyes widened as he realised that he officially couldn’t take it back. “I’m gay.” He said again this time calmer, he looked down. Not wanting to see his friends’ reactions in case it wasn’t one he was hoping for.
It took less than a second for Hermione to have her arms wrapped around him. “Oh Harry, that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with being gay.”
Ron joined their hug a moment later. “Mate, is this what’s had you so nervous all day? You were worried about how we would react?” Ron asked quietly.
Harry didn’t say anything, he just nodded into Hermione’s shoulder, his eyes tearing up a bit as they continued to hug.
“Harry, we fought together, we grew up together, you’re my brother. Gay or Straight it doesn’t matter, I’ll always love you.” Ron said and squeezed his friend harder.
After what felt like years but couldn’t have been more than a couple minutes they all pulled away from one another. Hermione wiped the tears from his cheeks and gripped his upper arm.
“Thank you for telling us. For trusting us enough to tell us.” She smiled and then with an almost knowing look in her eye followed up with, “Was that all Harry?”
He bit his lip and looked away from her intense brown eyes. Looking over to the Great Lake, at the calm water that had the sun reflecting on it.
“Well I’m sort of seeing someone, and I really, really like him. And I want to live with him after Hogwarts. And whether that means the four of us get a flat or him and I get a flat next to you two I don’t care, but it’s serious between us.”
Ron glanced at him surprised. “Wait you’ve been seeing someone and we had no idea?”
He nodded to confirm, “we wanted to keep it a secret at first, he’s not told anyone, I’ve not told anyone until you both now. It was just so new and scary that I didn’t want it to blow up in our faces y’know.”
“It’s alright Harry, we understand. So who is he?” Hermione asked gently.
“Malfoy?” Ron said before Harry could answer, and Harry turned to look at his friend but saw that Ron wasn’t looking at him, but instead looking towards the blond who was approaching the trio. “What do you want?” He asked once Draco was within hearing distance.
Draco glanced at Harry who’s eyes widened a little before he spoke. “Well about that-“
Hermione let out a gasp. She always was the brightest witch of her age. “Harry-“
“What am I missing?” Ron asked throwing his arms up, realising that he was missing something important at the moment.
“Im dating Draco.”
Harry could hear his heart in his ears, feel the anxiety crawl through his bones. This is what he was most nevous about, not about telling his friends he was gay, but that he was gay for Draco sodding Malfoy. The absolute brilliant bloke that he is.
Ron let out a laugh, and then another laugh, and soon he was almost literally on the floor in tears. He slapped his knee and bent over unable to hold himself up. “That’s a good one Harry!”
His friend kept laughing but Hermione, Harry, and now Draco who had walked up to beside Harry weren’t laughing along. “I’m not joking Ron.”
Ron paused and looked up at his friends to find none of them found the news as humorous as he did. He visibly deflated a little. “Wait you’re not being serious- It’s Malfoy for merlin’s sake! Hermione please back me up on this.”
Hermione did no such thing, she didn’t back him up, she didn’t say a word for a moment. “Ron-“
“No no no no no! Don’t ‘Ron’ me. Harry claims he’s dating the Ferret! And all you can say is ‘Ron’?!” The ginger shouts. A few of the students who are also on the grounds enjoying the sunny day look over to them.
Harry feels someone grab his hand and give it three little squeezes. Draco. Harry squeezes back. I love you. His way of letting Harry know it’ll be okay.
When no-one says anything for a while Ron looks down to Harry and Draco’s connected hands. “You’re being serious aren’t you?”
“Yes Ron. And like I said, I plan to move in with him, so if that means you and I aren’t to live together then that’s what it means. If you really can’t accept this.”
Harry turned away from his friends and walked back towards the castle hand-in-hand with Draco. The blond was rubbing his thumb over Harry’s knuckles trying to comfort him. “He’ll come round to it, he’s your best friends. You’ve literally fought a war alongside him. He’ll come round.”
Harry looked over at Draco and smiled. He stopped walking, about midway between where Hermione and Ron were still standing and the castle doors. He let go of Draco’s hand in favour of grabbing his cheeks with his hands and pulling him in for a soft passionate kiss.
“I know love, I know.” He mumbled against his lips after they broke apart.
August 2000 - London
“Harry it’s your move come on!” Ron snapped in Harry’s face trying to get his attention. They were playing a rather bad game of chess from Harry’s point of view.
He was too busy staring at Draco’s arse bent in front of the fireplace to pay attention to the game. “Hm right sorry. Bishop to B7” He said taking one of Ron’s pawns before looking back towards Draco and his rather fine bottom. “Harry!” Ron groaned again but made his move instead of continuing knowing complaining would be pointless.
It had been over a year since the four had moved in together, and although Ron still wasn’t thrilled about the whole -Draco Malfoy living in his home and sleeping in the room over, sharing a bed with his best mate- thing, he had come a long way.
At that moment Draco stood up from the floo and walked over to where the two were playing their game, he bent down to kiss Harry on the cheek before saying “Mum says hi.”
“Hi back.” Harry answered and made another move which by the way Draco grimaced was a bad one.
“Well Weasley, why don’t we have a game? Since you’re two away from mate and this will be over sooner than Harry can finish a treacle tart.” Ron let out a laugh before he smirked, a glint of challenge growing in his eyes.
“You’re on, shift it mate.” He said the latter part to Harry. Harry willingly complained, and not just because this meant he could sit on the couch behind them with Draco between his legs on the floor, him being able to play with Draco’s hair which had grown rather long now.
Hermione opened the front door of the flat and smiled at the three of them, “well don’t you all look happy. Who’s winning?”
“Malfoy.” Ron grumbled unhappily but then let out a whoop when he took Draco’s queen. “Me!”
Although Harry couldn’t see it, he could feel Draco roll his eyes, the way his forehead tenses when he does it.
Hermione walked into her shared room with Ron to change before coming back out in pyjamas and carrying a book. She sat sideways on the couch adjacent to Harry’s and started reading in no time. Harry waved his wand to put on the wireless which was gently playing a band he didn’t recognise.
In that moment, surrounded but those he loved Harry felt at peace, and knew that he was right. When you know you know. And by the small box that weighed down Harry’s front pocket indicated, Draco was the one.
FIN