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Chapter Text

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The first thing Harry noticed when he woke up was the green curtain wrapped around his bed. The second thing he noticed was a sound in his head that wasn’t his.

*What the fuck? Where am I? Bloody hell, is that Weasley? Damn, he snores like a hog… Focus!*

His eyes wide, Harry looked down at his hands. They were smooth, pale, and delicate. The fingers were longer than Harry’s own. His breath coming in gasps, he raised his sleeve to look at his forearm, seeing The Dark Mark, a dark stain on pale skin.

Now it was Harry’s turn for his thoughts to go crazy. ~What in actual fuck?~ He was in Malfoy’s body, and he could hear Malfoy’s thoughts.

*Potter? Please explain to me why I am in ridiculous red fuzzy pyjama bottoms, not to mention in your freaking body! You have no sense of style, by the way.* Malfoy sounded tired and confused, like he didn’t have the energy for anger yet.

~I could say the same about you, Malfoy. This silk makes my skin… I mean, your skin itch. Tell me you have some idea what this could be.~ Harry didn’t want to think about it, but he couldn’t help thinking that Malfoy would be intelligent enough to figure this out. He was on the same level as Hermione, though Harry would never dare tell her that. He sensed embarrassment from Malfoy, which confused him.

*I’m loath to mention the kind of things that come to mind…*

'I hope to Salazar, it is not some sort of body switching soul bond!'

Harry did not like the thought he heard coming from Draco.  ~Body switch soul bonding? Malfoy, what the fuck?~

*I never said-*

~You didn’t have to!~ 

The bed curtain snapped open, and Harry froze, seeing Nott looking at him. ~Oh, no, what are we going to do? Pretend to be each other or come clean? Nott is practically climbing into your bed. What should I do?~

Frustration came from Malfoy. *This is too embarrassing to tell anyone… at least not yet. We pretend. Though I have no clue how to act like you!*

~Do you think I know how to act like you?~

“Draco, darling, did you sleep well?” Nott asked teasingly.

~He called me… You darling, Malfoy. Are you an item?~

*We’re not! He is like that. Roll your eyes, scoff, and push him off the bed. Fuck you, Theodore, it’s too early for this shit.*

Alright. Harry could do that. He knew Malfoy was good friends with Nott, so this was their dynamic. Odd, but fine.

Groaning, he rolled his eyes, trying to seem as stuffy as possible. He sensed that Malfoy was fuming. 

“Fuck off,” Harry muttered, shoving Nott off the side of his bed. “It’s too early for this shit."

Nott laughed. “Spicy.”

*Oh, no, oh no, Weasley is awake, and he’s looking at me. He’s giving me a goofy smile. Why is he smiling like that?* 

~That’s his normal face, Malfoy.~ Harry rolled his eyes. The desperation in Malfoy’s voice would have been comical under different circumstances.

*In the fucking morning?* Malfoy sounded scandalised. *Oh, no, he’s coming over here. He plopped on the bed. Now he’s talking to me. What do I do? Help me.*

Harry had to hold a pillow over his mouth to stifle his laughter. He wasn’t sure the other boys in this room were used to hearing Malfoy giggle so early in the morning.

~Calm down, he only bites when I ask~

*What? Potter, are you queer?*

Harry blushed, his thoughts answering for him. 'It's not your business if I'm gay! Why the hell did I have to be put inside an attractive body? Ugh!' Harry pressed his hands to his eyes, groaning. 

*Potter, I am going to combust if you touch me… yourself… me… You know what I mean! You think I’m… Ah! Weasley is looking at me all concerned-like because I haven’t moved or talked to him.*

~Don’t flatter yourself. Just because someone is conventionally attractive… whatever. I’m not into you like that. Don’t blow a gasket.~

*What the fuck is a gasket? Is that a sex joke? Potter, be careful. Don’t start sending signals to other men while in MY body.*

~I wouldn’t do that to anyone, even you, Malfoy.~

*Oh, good. Um, Weasley left. He said he’s going to get Granger because he’s worried about me. You, I mean.*

'I don't know why Weasley is acting so weirded out...' Harry winced, hearing that thought from Draco. He knew where this was going. His friends would think he was in the same place as last time. When he spiralled and almost didn’t come back from it. They had spent weeks forcing him to eat, helping him clean himself. That was before Hogwarts was rebuilt and everyone came back.

He rubbed his eyes, startled to not feel glasses. Well, he had just woken up, so that would make sense, but he didn’t need glasses. Everything was crystal clear. He peeked out from behind the curtain and looked around at all the green and silver furnishings. Nobody else was in the room, so he sighed in relief.

*Potter,* Malfoy said, his thought voice sounding oddly gentle. 

~Don’t. It’s a thing. It happens with me, and now they’re going to think… look, I know this is uncomfortable, and you hate us, but please don’t make them think I’m on that edge again, Malfoy. You’re smart, come up with something, anything.~

He couldn’t put his friends through that again. 

*I’ll try. For what it's worth, I don't hate you guys. They’re back.* 

🤯🤯🤯

“Harry, are you alright?” Weasley asked, coming over to Draco and sitting next to him. Alarmingly, he reached for Draco’s hand and held onto it like they were lovers.

~Not lovers! Like best friends who aren’t afraid of affection.~

“F-fine,” Malfoy answered. “Sorry about before. I was lost in my head. Weird dreams.”

~Dreaming about me, huh?~

*Never say that again.* 

'What the hell is wrong with Potter?' Draco thought, and then he tried to clear his mind, not wanting Potter to hear everything. He didn't know if doing so was pointless or not, but Potter didn't respond to his thought.

Instead of Weasley and Granger looking relieved, they grew more concerned, frowning and sharing glances.

“Not those kinds of dreams,” Malfoy assured. He knew everyone had those kinds of dreams since the war, so he hoped Granger and Weasley understood.

“Oh, good,” Weasley said. “But what kind of dream would make you act so dazed like that?”

*What kind of dream would make you act dazed, Potter?*

~A bizarre wet dream.~

*Pervert!*

~Prude!~

Draco smirked. 'Fine, if he wants to play it like that.... I will make them think he has some whacked gay sexual fantasies!' 

~Do your worst.~ Draco was sure Potter rolled his eyes.

*So you consent to me weaving a wild tale?*

~Go ahead, they’ve heard everything.~

Maybe Potter did have weird fantasies.

“Depraved sexual dream with everyone.” Draco smiled, trying to appear genuinely smiling, and not acting.

“Everyone? Even me?” Weasley asked. Draco nodded, making Weasley laugh. “Yep, that would make me daze out in front of you if it happened to me. Gotcha, mate.”

Draco blinked. 'Are they just going to accept it? Don't they care at all? Isn't it immoral to have sex dreams about your friends?' 

“You can’t control your dreams, Harry, so you don’t have to worry about it,” Hermione said softly. 

“Yeah, you’re sexually repressed if you’re having freaky dreams about me, and who else is everyone? Maybe Malfoy?” Weasley wiggled his eyebrows at Draco, looking like a lunatic. 

Draco sputtered, biting Potter… his tongue.

“No, of course not, just some people and players from the Bulgarian team.”

“Sounds like a fun dream. I can’t fault you for it. I am fit. Well, come down for breakfast.” Weasley leaned forward and hugged Draco as if they hadn’t just been discussing Potter dreaming about having sex with him and other guys.

Hermine hugged him, too, and he was flabbergasted. 'Are they all insane?'

~They would much rather I have sexual dreams about them than the kind they know me for having,~ Potter said, his thought voice quiet, mournful. Draco couldn't help but care.

“I’m not sure what to say,” Draco said. He might have voiced it out loud, but the thought repeated in his mind over and over again.

~Don’t worry about it. I’m fine. Thanks for easing their minds, Malfoy.~

Potter’s gratitude was genuine, and Draco's mask started to crack.

Draco looked around the Gryffindor room. It was laid out like the Slytherin room, the colours being the only difference. He looked at his arm and his hands, avoiding a glance at his forearm, knowing it would be blank and feeling uneasy about it.

It was so odd to see skin that wasn’t as pale as his own. Potter was only a couple of shades darker; he probably got as little sun as Draco did. He jumped when he could tell Potter was snickering. It was an odd sensation that sent chills down his spine. 

~We’d burn within minutes.~

*True, so good thing we’re wizards.* Draco stood up and walked to Potter’s trunk. He couldn’t stay in all day, could he? That meant he would have to take a shower with Potter’s body. He’d have to touch it to wash it. Draco sucked in his breath, his cheeks warming. 'This feels wrong. Isn't this intrusive? Like a violation?'

~I appreciate you thinking that, but we can’t live off Scourgify. We don’t know how long this will last, let alone what caused it.~

*Are you saying you don’t mind? You’ll permit me?* Draco was raised to do things properly. His upbringing had been his downfall, yet some of the things he was taught remained ingrained in him.

~Malfoy, you can look at and touch my body because you can’t avoid it. So no, I don’t mind.~

Well, that helped Draco feel a little better but not any less embarrassed. 

*The same…you can do it, too.* Draco groaned. There wasn't a choice. He had to allow it. He wanted his body to be clean, didn't he?

'What is my life? What is Potter's life?' Draco thought, shaking his head. This was too weird, even by magical standards.

~I’ve asked myself that since I could talk.~

Draco didn’t expect the gut-wrenching pain, and he doubled over, crying out. He didn’t know Potter’s full story. He lived with Muggles, but that was all he really knew, other than what was spread over the news outlets.

Flashes from Potter’s childhood were hitting Draco hard and fast. It was like getting stabbed in the head. He knew the feeling. He was experiencing Potter’s panic attack. Potter triggered himself with just a simple sentence. No, Draco had triggered him by questioning their lives.

'This is my fault!'

“Shit, fuck…” Draco pressed a palm to his forehead, feeling Potter’s scar. More scenes of a sad little boy were flashing in his mind. Little Potter’s eyes were so wide and so impossibly green.

A tiny child was being forcefully shoved into a cupboard, hitting his head hard enough to cause his nose to bleed. A bigger kid was jumping on him and pounding on his stomach. The adults coming into the room, rolling their eyes, but seeming to take their fucking sweet time to pull the bigger child off. They hardly scolded him. They blamed Potter, who was probably four years old. Told him to stop annoying his cousin, and then he was locked in the cupboard again.

*Potter. Breathe. In and out. Listen to my voice. You are not there anymore. Touch something. Ground yourself.*

~I don’t know how,~ Potter cried. ~My friends aren’t here.~

*I’m coming,* Draco promised. He never saw the day he would be doing something like this, but it wasn't as if he could ignore what he had just experienced in his mind. Only the most heartless person could do that.

~How?~ Potter sobbed, and more images destroyed Draco.

*I know the password, remember?*

~But you’re me right now!~

*I don’t care if I’m bloody Father Christmas.*

~Trunk. Cloak.~

Blinking, Draco dropped to the trunk, his eyes widening. Of course, Potter had an invisibility cloak. That explained a lot.

Chapter Text

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Draco looked at his red fuzzy bottoms, though there was no time to insult Potter’s choice of sleepwear. He blushed, yanking his clothing off, pulling out clothes from Potter’s trunk, and getting dressed as fast as possible. 

Everything was blurry. He squinted, looking around for Potter’s glasses, not finding them because Potter's vision was that bad. They should have been on the nightstand next to Potter's wand, one would assume, at least. He figured they must have been knocked off and were lying somewhere on the floor. “Accio, my glasses!” He said, casting a wandless spell. Potter's glasses rushed toward him. He caught them and put them on, bringing the room into focus.

He found Potter's wand on the nightstand next to his bed and picked it up, surprised to see how comfortable it was in his hands, but of course it did; he was in Potter's body. That done, he cast a quick cleaning spell, grabbed the cloak, shrinking it and putting it into his pocket. 

Memories continued to assault his mind. Potter’s panic attack was not slowing down at all. Draco was not familiar with mental health. Wizards didn’t put much stock into stuff like that, which he knew was a shame. They could use resources for mental health. Muggles had a one-up there, Draco admitted. What Potter was going through seemed to be something more profound than a panic or anxiety attack.

Draco rushed out of the dorm room, hoping he didn’t get lost on the way out. People called out to him in greeting as he entered the common room. He spared them a quick nod, mumbling something about being late, and left the Gryffindor Tower. Draco had no idea how Potter would go about brushing people off, and he wondered why he even cared if he gave off rude energy toward them while in Potter’s body.

~How… swee… sweet,~ Potter’s laboured thought voice came to Draco. Draco was shocked that Potter could spare a moment to speak to him, given that his horrid childhood was being played out so violently. Though talking was good, the distraction might be helpful.

*I’m not a monster… though some would say that is debatable,* Draco responded.

~Not me…~ 

Having no time to wonder what he meant, Draco kept moving. Potter wasn’t thinking much other than what his memories were showing. Draco shrugged off his curiosity and ran down the hallways. Once in the dungeons, he put on Potter’s cloak.

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It was odd sneaking around in his own common room; nobody would know how to react if Harry Potter were suddenly there.

~I was once,~ Potter’s thought voice said. ~You almost found out. Ron and I…~ 

What Weasley and he had done, Draco wouldn’t be finding out because Potter suddenly screamed in his mind, a vivid memory slamming into Draco’s with the full force of the most vicious hex. It actually caused Draco to stumble and fall to his knees. He grabbed his head, almost screaming himself.

~I can’t… I can’t…Ron, Hermi…~

*I’m almost there,* Draco answered. It was surreal that he was running to Potter’s aid, but what else could he do? How could anyone ignore something like this? A person would have to be truly cold and uncaring not to want to do something. He couldn’t pretend not to have a heart because what would the use be when Potter could read his mind anyway?

Finally, in his dorm room, he found Potter curled up into a ball on the floor in front of his trunk. It was an out-of-body experience to see his own body lying on the cold floor, curled up in a fetal position, shivering and crying like he was a three-year-old having a breakdown. Potter was doing something with his body that Draco forced himself not to do. Not to give in to the swirling pain he had every day. Not to let it show how broken he became sometimes.

He walked over to Potter, pulling the cloak off. Kneeling, he touched him on the shoulder. It was a strange act of self-care.

“Malfoy?” Potter croaked in a voice that sounded like he had been swallowing knives. 

“Oh…” Potter looked at him with wide eyes, full of childhood despair, and Draco's body reacted. A tear fell down his cheek because of the desperation he could see in Potter’s eyes… Well, those were his eyes. Potter was using his eyes to look like that. Not giving himself time to think about it, he sat down with his back to his trunk, startled when Potter lurched toward him, head digging into his stomach.

Potter couldn’t feel grounded unless he was being held by another person, even someone like Draco. Draco let Potter cling to him, let him soak the front of his T-shirt. He allowed himself to put his arms around Potter’s shoulders. Strangely, Draco was hugging himself. “If Theodore catches us, we will never live this down,” Draco said. “The whole school will have all sorts of sordid tales of a secret love affair.”

Potter sniffed and then gave a watery laugh. Draco was relieved that he could laugh. The horrid memories were not as frequent or as vivid as they had been before. “At least…” Potter coughed, still having a hard time finding his voice. “...the school year would be less boring.”

That was something Draco could not deny, though how boring could it be, considering they had switched bodies and could read each other’s minds.

“You have a point,” Potter said. “This is…”

“Freaky,” Draco supplied.

“Freaky Friday,” Potter mumbled. That confused Draco, but he got an image of something that was not Potter’s childhood. It was a scene of a teenage girl and an adult woman colliding at full speed.

“I don’t know what that was, but it was nice to see that instead…”

“Yeah, sorry,” Potter said, “can’t control when… You know?”

“It’s alright. They’re getting better.”

Potter was calming down, the memories starting to fade more and more, though Draco was afraid he would think of them and make Harry relive them often.

“M-maybe we can find a spell to help us not share so many thoughts?”

“Potter, we don’t even know why this has happened in the first place.”

Pulling back from Draco, Potter looked at him with Draco’s eyes. “Don’t worry. Being around people usually stops this from happening, and when it does, they are quick to work me through it.”

“You mean touching and being clingy with them helps you? I don’t know how Theodore and Blaise will feel if I suddenly become cuddly.”

“True, but we have to learn how to act…”

“Ugh! How affectionate is your lot?” Draco asked. *Am I expected to kiss Weasley or something? Please tell me you don't giggle and hold hands all day.*

Potter laughed. He didn’t seem to be having his panic attack anymore, but still didn’t move out of Draco’s personal space. Draco almost didn’t mind. Potter’s cheeks flushed, and it was jarring to see his own face blushing like that.

“Don’t…” Draco groaned. “Stop blushing with my face!”

“Give me a break!” Potter said loudly, sounding more like himself, even if he was using Draco’s voice box. “You’re blushing, too.”

“Am not!”

“Yes, you are, and it’s…”

“Fine, yes, it’s bloody weird seeing your own body saying and reacting to things,” Draco said. “But I am… not blushing. Your body temperature must run on the hotter side or something.”

‘If we touch each other, would it be mas… fuck. I hope he didn't hear that! Fuck intrusive thoughts.’ Potter pushed away from Draco and tried to stand up on unsteady feet.

“I might die before this is over,” Draco said. “You have a dirty mind, Potter.”

Potter looked down at him. “Are you saying… the thought never occurred to you?”

'It did...' Draco squeezed his eyes shut after seeing the smirk on his own face staring back at him. Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and glared at Potter in response. Not all thoughts got through, but apparently the ones he didn't want to got through just fine.

“Fuck off! Don't look so smug. We’re both reasonably good-looking men with emotions and hormones. It’s natural to think about stuff, isn’t it?” Draco crossed his arms and huffed.

“Oh, I’m good-looking, am I?” Potter laughed. “Good to know.”

“I didn’t mean I thought you were…” Draco started to say. 

'I do think he's good looking,' Draco's thoughts betrayed him, and the grin on Potter's face was proof enough that he heard. Could Potter's smile get any more annoying?

“Damn it!” 

“Stop the act, Malfoy. I can see your mind, and I’m going to assume only the most embarrassing thoughts get across to each other because why the hell not, so I already know you favour men.”

“Whatever.”

“I didn’t think you were the shy type.”

“Screw you.”

“Now, there’s a thought.”

“Potter, I’m going to kill you!”

Potter laughed, leaning down to grab Draco’s arm, pulling him to his feet. “Might want to wait until we’re back in our own bodies, Malfoy.”

Draco bit down on his lower lip, but stopped, remembering it was Potter’s lip. “You’ve got a point. I’ll wait.”

“So we have to come up with a reason why we’d start to hang out.”

“Why would I want to hang out with you?”

Potter frowned, and Draco actually had the sense to feel a little guilty, remembering the panic attack from before. Potter didn’t react to what he was thinking, so that proved that not every thought he had went through, which was a huge relief.

“I had wished things could be different once the war was over,” Potter said softly. Hearing Potter say that using his own face, with such a gloomy look and sad tone of voice, hit Draco hard in the gut.

They were words he wanted to say himself, but never had the guts to, thinking people would hate him forever and never forgive him for his part, even if he had been groomed since birth. Draco didn’t believe he deserved forgiveness anyway.

“That’s not true,” Potter said.

“Oh, sure, that thought gets through.” Draco went to put his hands over his eyes, smashing Potter’s glasses into his face. “Ouch. How do you get used to these bloody things?”

Potter shrugged. “I don’t even notice them. It’s weirder for me to have perfect vision suddenly.”

“Hm.”

Sighing, Potter rubbed his arm. Draco watched him, overcome by the absurdity of seeing his own body make awkward gestures without his permission. Potter glared at Draco and dropped his hand, trying to stand still, but he couldn’t stop the nervous energy and kept fidgeting. 

“I should wash up and get changed. We’re going to miss breakfast.” Potter looked at his bare feet, wiggling his toes. “Oh, ha, ha, you have cute toes, Malfoy.”

“Potter!” Draco blushed, groaning. “Must you say things like that?”

“Toes are toes, Malfoy. Get a grip. Even someone like Umbridge could have cute toes.”

They both shuddered.

“Sorry. That was taking it too far.” Potter laughed and wiggled his toes again.

“Merlin, you are weird.” He couldn’t mask the amused smile, nor the weird shiver going down his spine when Potter returned it. Despite the smile coming from Draco’s own face, with his own mouth…

'Operation, make everyone think we are each other, is a go!’ Potter thought, sounding oddly cheerful, all things considered. He bounced back fast, though Draco assumed he never had much choice.

Draco didn’t mind hearing some of the sillier thoughts from Potter. It was refreshing, to be honest.

Chapter Text

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They walked out of the Slytherin Dungeon together. The cloak covered Draco as they walked side by side. Draco could feel Potter’s hand brushing his through the cloak. ~Thanks for coming,~ Potter said, ~although I’m sure you wouldn’t have wanted any of your friends to see you acting like that.~

*Potter… that isn’t the only reason I came, you know? Ugh, this whole thing is messing with my mind, literally.* Draco sighed.

~So… how do we do this?~ Potter stopped walking, leaning against the wall. ~How do you act around random people you cross?~

*I’ve been keeping my head down, to be honest.* 

~I’m supposed to ignore everyone?~ Potter sounded a mixture of relieved and disappointed. Draco could tell he both liked being around people and hated it at the same time. It was understandable because Draco was the same way. He couldn’t believe they were so similar, something he would have never expected.

*I don’t know. I guess so.*  He knew he sounded sad because he couldn’t mask that when Potter saw into his head, and he was speaking his thoughts directly toward him.

~Is this some weird cosmic way to help you figure out how to get people to…~ Potter trailed off. ~I don’t want to sound rude. Sorry.~

Draco laughed. *You’ve never had a problem with that before!*

~It’s different. I’m in your body, and I see most of what is in your mind! I don’t think we hear everything, though. I’ve thought about some things you didn’t react to.~

*Thank Merlin for some small favours. Potter, I don’t know what any of this means. People will think I’m a polyjuice version of me if I suddenly start acting… friendly.*

Potter pushed off the wall and looked toward Draco as if he could see through the cloak. He narrowed his eyes. ~You want to, though. You want to be redeemed. You want to start over. Don’t deny it, Malfoy. You can’t hide it from me.~

“Impossible,” Draco said. It was lucky they were alone. *This is too much, Potter! I don’t know what healthy or normal even is!*

~You think I do?~

*Oh. You’re right.* Draco closed his eyes, feeling like he had been kicked in the stomach.  He isn't who I was led to believe he was.'

~Same goes for you, Malfoy. You gave me a wand, remember? You picked my side in the end. Against your father. Against Voldemort.~

Draco cringed at the use of his name being whispered in his mind. 

~He’s not a threat now, so you can say it, Malfoy.~

Draco shrugged, though Potter couldn’t see. 

Once out of the dungeons, they looked around, seeing nobody. Draco took off the cloak and went to give it to Potter, who shook his head.

“Keep it. I mean, imagine the trouble if my friends find out Malfoy has Potter’s precious cloak.” Potter smirked, and it was so ridiculous to see his own face smirking back at him that it made Draco snort.

“Makes sense. What about our wands?”

“We can’t very well carry each other's… You know what I mean.”

“Alright, so… see you at breakfast, I guess.” Draco shrank the cloak and put it in his pocket.

🤯🤯🤯

Once they got to the Great Hall, Harry let Malfoy go in first and then walked in a few seconds later, accidentally bumping into Malfoy like they had planned. It was stupid, immature, but typical of them. “Watch it, Potter!” Harry yelled, trying to glare like he remembered Malfoy doing, but he had a feeling he just looked like a clown. It was so weird to be yelling at Malfoy but using his own name.

“Oh, sorry, my bad, I must have used weird mind powers to make you bump into me,” Malfoy said. He put his hands on his hips.

~I do not say ‘my bad,’ Malfoy!~

*My bad.*

~Oh, ha ha.~

“Just…whatever,” Harry said, spinning around and flipping his chin up in a snotty manner.

*I do not look like that, Potter.*

~Oh, yes, you do. Welcome to the front row seat of yourself, Malfoy.~

Harry, as Malfoy sauntered over to the Slytherin table. He sat down between Nott and Zabini. Parkinson was sitting across from him.

“Draco, darling,” Nott purred annoyingly in his ear. “Took you long enough.”

Squeezing the bridge of his nose, Harry sighed. “Ran into Potter.” He groaned, trying to sound disgusted.

“Aw, that guy will never not be under your skin, Draco,” Pansy said with a giggle.

~How do you tell Parkinson to shut up, Malfoy?~

*Shut up, slut.*

~Sweet.~

Harry gritted his teeth. “Shut up, slut.”

“Whore.”

“Bitch.”

Zabini laughed. “Your love language is pure poetry, Draco.”

“I have a headache,” Harry grumbled. “Potter being annoying and…well, you know.” 

*Having fun insulting yourself, Potter?*

~Are you having fun with my friends?~

*Fuck you.*

~Maybe later.~

*Shut up! I choked on some eggs, and now Weasley is trying to kill me with his large hands.*

~I’m assuming he’s wacking your back. Stop being so dramatic, Malfoy.~

Harry looked across the Great Hall, suppressing a laugh as he watched Luna walk up to the table and throw her arms around Malfoy from behind. She fluffed his hair and then ran off without waiting for a reaction.

*Ah! Where the fuck did she come from?*

~Be nice to her, please. She’s been through…~ Unable to stop them, memories of being trapped in the Manor came to Harry. He squeezed his eyes shut. ~Sorry, I didn’t mean to think about that.~

*I’ll be nice. I know she has been through more than some people do. I was… there, you know?*

~Humor her about Nargles; that always makes her delighted.~

🤯🤯🤯

“Harry, why aren’t you eating?” Granger asked, frowning. She pulled on a strand of her curls in a fidgety manner. Draco looked at her and could see how troubled she was. It wasn’t just her. He looked at Weasley, Longbottom, and Weaslette. They were all jittery. Weaslette had tremors in her hands that she couldn’t seem to control, and Longbottom was constantly tapping his finger on something. Weasley bounced his knee nonstop, sending vibrations through Draco as they were sitting uncomfortably close.

“I’m good,” Draco said. “You saw me run into Malfoy, didn’t you? Just Malfoy being Malfoy.”

Granger frowned. “Don’t be like that, Harry. You know he’s having a hard time.”

“Yeah, mate, he’s going through it just as bad as we are,” Weasley said, shaking his head.

“It’s a shame he doesn’t think he can open up to us,” Weaslette added.

“I mean, we did grow up together,” Longbottom said, “but the war and house rivalry will always keep the houses pitted against each other.”

“It’s sad,” Hermione said.

Draco was struggling to remember how to breathe. Were all these people coming to his defence?

'How can they act like this after what I've done? My actions got one of the Weasley brothers killed!'

“I know,” Draco finally said. “I’m sorry. My mind feels off today.” For a very good reason.

“It’s fine, Harry. I wish you would try to have a civil conversation with him at least,” Granger said. “Start small. What could it hurt?”

“His pride?” Malfoy said. It was the truth. Before the war, his so-called pride would have taken a big hit, but now Draco wanted what they were suggesting.

“He’s a boy just like you, Harry,” Granger said softly.

“I’m a man,” Draco said, offended for himself and, he supposed, for Potter.

“True, but you didn’t get to grow up properly,” Wealsey said. “Sorry, mate, it’s the sad truth.”

“Neither did Malfoy,” Longbottom said. “There is no reason really why the two of you couldn’t be friends. You have a lot more in common than you think.”

“Hm...” Draco wasn’t sure what to say to that.

*Your friends are oddly accepting of me having a redemption arc, Potter.* Draco started to eat and saw the relieved looks on everyone’s faces.

~Of course they are. We’re all human and tired of this bullshit. We fought a war. We’re all war children, Malfoy.~

*Hm, I suppose so.*

🤯🤯🤯

“Gra…. Great Hermione,” Draco said, inwardly groaning at his stupidity, “do you know anything about bonds? Magical bonds, like of the soul and mind?” he asked once they were back in the Gryffindor common room.

Hermione wrinkled her nose. “Great Hermione? Harry, why are you trying to flatter me?” She laughed and leaned over to hug him. Draco tried not to cringe, and not because it was Granger. It was sudden affection from people he wasn’t used to. He didn’t know if he would ever get used to it, even if a small part of him admitted it did feel good.

“Would you rather, ‘Oh, powerful, Hermione?’ Come on, answer my question.” He put his arms around her, wondering just how affectionate he was supposed to be. 'Am I supposed to rub her back or pat her head?'

~A good snog, maybe.~

*Merlin, Potter!*

~I find it funny that our most random or embarrassing thoughts get through.~

*I do not!*

“Soulmate magic, soul bonds… hmm,” Hermione hummed as she thought. “Yes, there are spells to find out who your so-called soulmate is, but I don’t think we should abuse them. Why? Are you wishing to know who your soulmate is, Harry?”

“Uh…”

“Not Ginny? Are the two of you not talking about getting back together since the war is over?” She smiled at him, overwhelming love and kindness in her eyes. Draco couldn’t handle her eyes looking like that, so he looked down.

*Harry, do they not know you’re queer? She’s asking about Weaslette.*

~I haven’t come around to telling anyone. They act like they suspect I am, but please don’t tell them yet...~

*I wouldn’t out you, dumbass. What do I tell her about your old flame?*

~That I rushed into a relationship because I thought I was going to die and would never get the chance to be with anyone, and now that I’ve been able to breathe, I don’t feel that way about her, and she feels the same. We haven't bothered to tell anyone.~

*That’s kind of sad.*

~Many people rushed into things…~

*I mean… never mind.*

“Not We… willing to get back together with Ginny because we rushed into it because of the war, you know?” Draco said. “It’s mutual. We didn’t see why we had to talk about it.” He shrugged, trying to look casual like he saw Potter do sometimes. 'This is how he looks when he's casual, right? Not that I'm looking at him that much.'

~Lies…~

*Shut up!*

“That makes sense,” Hermione said. “Well, I support you finding your true match, but don’t mess with dangerous magic unless you have an expert potion maker on your side, of course.” She winked. “Who do we know that is really good at potions?”

“Ugh, Hermione! I’m not planning on it, so stop joking around. I was just curious.”

*It’s scary how I’m slipping into being you, Potter.*

~Admit you like being able to be open with someone, even if you’re doing it by proxy.~

*I’ll never admit that!* But it was nice. Draco sighed.

Draco could feel Potter laughing, and his cheeks warmed. His damn mind was a traitor.

“Well, I can look up books about it, but I don’t think Hogwarts is going to have many lying around.”

“What about cosmic accidental bonding? How would something like that happen?” Draco asked nonchalantly.

She tilted her head, giving him a perplexed look. “You’re having some strange thoughts, Harry.”

“I’d rather these than…”

“Me too,” Hermione said, nodding. “You know, I do believe you have ADHD. You should really take my advice and look into it.”

Somehow, Draco knew he should not ask her what that was. That would certainly blow their cover.

“Yeah, yeah…”

“An accidental bond would probably be ancient magic and between two people with a lot of.. Hmm… conflicting feelings for each other. Like the magic got fed up and slammed them together to make them stop acting foolish.” 

“Magic is weird.”

Draco had a feeling Potter would say something like that, and at the moment, he agreed.

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯

~I really enjoyed that dream you had last night,~ Potter whispered into Draco’s head the moment he woke up. Draco flushed, slapping a hand over his face. Potter was insufferable. His mind was a landmine of dirty thoughts, apparently. Not to mention, he was fucking flirting. ~I am not, you fuck. It’s not my fault you wish I were,~ Potter said, sounding angry, but his thoughts proved he was lying. 'He's fun to tease. I guess it could be considered flirting if we were normal people.' 

*Yeah, right, Potter. You’re gay, and shockingly enough, I’m the only one who knows, so you’re getting out some of your flirty desires. I’m just a sad, innocent bystander to it!*

~Get a grip. Besides, I wasn’t talking about a dirty dream anyway. You were dreaming about peacocks when you were six or something.~ Potter sighed, and Draco couldn't help feeling slightly guilty.

*You could have led with that, Potter.* Draco grabbed Potter’s glasses and put them on.

'The idea of us being bonded is alarming, but Granger made it seem clear that this was probably a bonding. What do I tell Potter? What will he think about this?'

~What kind of bond?~

*Wouldn’t I like to know! Stop seeing all my thoughts!* Draco knew he sounded like a brat, but he couldn't help it, and he knew that Potter was in the same boat as him, so he should be cutting him some slack. 

~Don’t get your… my knickers in a twist.~ 

*Please stop saying it like that. I realise this is your body, but… ugh, you suck.*

Speaking of Potter’s body, his fucking cock… was hard. ‘Shit. Why is this happening to me? I'm not touching that!’

~Are you feeling horny in MY body, Malfoy?~ Draco could not fathom why Potter sounded amused about that.

*I am not! It’s something that can happen when you wake up, even though you should know that, Potter. Didn’t they teach you about the birds and the bees?*

The thoughts coming from Potter were definitely not directed toward him. Draco winced, not liking the sound of them at all.  

'I didn't even know what sex was until my third year at Hogwarts. Everything I ever learned was passed down through word of mouth. Didn't even really know what love or a hug was either...' Potter sounded so lost.

Draco frowned, looking down. He couldn't understand not knowing about things like affection, even if the love he got from his parents hadn't been healthy. It was just weird for Draco not to know about things like sexual education. Even his uptight parents had sat him down and told him everything when he was old enough to understand.

An anguished cry came from Potter, loud in Draco's head. It was painful. Draco didn’t think Potter was actually crying, but he was quite bothered. *I’m sorry. I mean for you to hear that…* Draco didn’t know what to say without upsetting Potter further. He wanted to say that his Muggle family was worse than dirt, probably worse than Umbridge, and that was saying something. He had half a mind to go to the Muggles and give them a scare. Not a harmful one, of course, but…

~Thank you. You know, I can hear you thinking that, Malfoy.~

*Because, of course, you can! How does this work? Why do only some thoughts get through?*

~Don’t fret about it. I know you’re just upset about the child version of me. It doesn’t have to mean anything.~ Potter sounded exhausted and overwhelmingly defeated.

That did it. Potter’s body was no longer hard. Being hit with crushing pain had a lot to do with that. Potter’s pain for not having a parental figure to teach him anything. Draco’s pain for Potter because he wasn’t a heartless bastard.

Draco was upset for more than the child version of Potter. It did mean something.

*Potter, I know it would be hard to believe, considering our history, but I do care when I find out somebody was abused as a child, you included. We’re still basically kids, even if we’re eighteen. I’m sorry for making jokes insinuating what a parent should teach you.*

~Thanks…~ Potter didn’t sound like he believed Draco. ~I do believe you. I dunno; this is weird. Don’t worry about it. The loudmouths here caught me up on sex and everything I missed.~

*They shouldn’t have had to,* Draco said. Draco hated having the sex talk with his parents and never realised it was something he took for granted. Unable to stop, he thought of that time. He was eleven or twelve. From the gasp from Potter, he knew Potter saw the memory.

*Didn’t mean to…show that.*

~No, it was nice, if not a bit embarrassing on your part. I got 'the talk' by proxy. Now I’m going to have nightmares thinking of my aunt and uncle trying it.~

🤯🤯🤯

~How do you want me to dress your body for this?~ Harry asked Malfoy as he dug around in Malfoy’s trunk. He had a lot of clothing shrunk down so that he could fit even more in the trunk. There seemed to be no point in having so much clothing when students wore a robe most of the time at Hogwarts.

*There is nothing wrong with being well prepared, Potter. The green button-up dress shirt that has silver buttons and blue slacks. Any undergarments are fine.’*

~Good to know you won’t mind if I have hippogriff underpants on, Malfoy, or if I borrow some of Nott's boxers.~

*Must you be so annoying?*

~But it is so fun to fluster you.~ Harry laughed, digging around until he found the clothing Malfoy wanted. ~I bet you have a cute flush on your cheeks… wait, that’s weird. Those would be MY cheeks.~

*I’m not blushing at any rate, you shameless flirt.*

~I’m going to look in the mirror. Say something to make me flush so I can see how adorable you would be, Malfoy.~

Harry sensed that Malfoy was combusting and laughed. ~Did I kill you?~

*I’m perfectly composed. I’m not sure I’d know what would make the likes of you blush anyway.*

~Ouch, harsh. I wouldn’t know. It’s not like I have guys lining up to flirt with me. Girls, yes. Ugh.~

He got up, went into the restroom, and undressed. Stepping into the shower, he sighed when the water hit him.

*You’d need to come out to let guys know they can flirt with you, dumbass.*

Hermione had teamed up with Parkinson, of all people, to throw a little party for a select few students who were close to both of them. Harry was glad Hermione was making friends, but Parkinson? Harry had a feeling she did it on purpose because she wanted him to be friends with Malfoy.

Unity for everyone and all that.

*Pansy is an acquired taste, but she’s not that bad. Don’t let her know I said that. She and Theodore have the same kind of upbringing I did, you know? We were all…it’s hard to say it, or rather think it in this case…*

~Groomed from birth,~ Harry supplied. ~Yeah, I know.~

*Theodore has never been about the pureblood shit. He opposed his father from a very young age. I’m ashamed I was never able to do it.*

~Don’t be. There could have been a simple factor that changed it for Nott. You had a similar upbringing, but you’re experiences couldn’t have been one hundred per cent the same.~

*Hm, I guess. Blaise never had to deal with that. He’s had a stuck-up, rich-boy lifestyle, sure, but his family was always neutral.*

They were getting on quite well, oddly enough, and it was nice to talk without any of their insults carrying real heat.

Harry slowly ran the soap over his… Malfoy’s chest and bit his lower lip. His face became warm.

So touching another man’s body was enough to make him flush, even if he was the one currently wearing the body. Noted.

*Potter… for the love of Godric, keep your mind out of the gutter while touching my body!*

~Sorry. Heh… Godric, huh?~

*Leave me alone, I’m hearing these bloody lions twenty-four seven!*

Harry continued to wash down his chest and then sucked in his breath when he got an image in his head of both of them in the shower, helping each other wash.

It was not Harry’s thought.

~Malfoy…~

*Don’t say a word.*

🤯🤯🤯

In the room of requirement, an odd assortment of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin were gathered. The one Ravenclaw was Luna. The Slytherin house did not even have many Eighth Year students come back after the war, so the only ones around were Malfoy and his closest friends, Pansy, Blaise, and Theodore. Gryffindor dominated the room.

Harry rolled his eyes, scoffing. “So many damn lions in one room, and is nobody friends with a Hufflepuff?” It was oddly fun making little jabs as Malfoy. They were harmless and held no heat. He even got a few laughs out of Dean and Seamus. Harry looked over at Malfoy and saw that he was trying to hide an amused smile.

It was easy to tell because Malfoy’s face was his own, plus Harry could feel how amused Malfoy was.

“You love us, Malfoy,” Seamus said, shoving a drink into his hands. He looked at it and raised an eyebrow. How did they manage to get firewhisky?

“Don’t hold your breath,” Harry said, taking the drink and going to sit down. Seamus just laughed.

*You’re good at that, but that is not how I’d do it. Funny and odd that they don’t actually seem to care much.*

~You might have acted more shitty before, Malfoy, but we know you’ve gone sweet on us. That is why they don’t care as much.~

*Bite your tongue!*

~You mean bite your tongue? Alright, but people will give your body weird looks if I start…~

*Stop now.*

Harry looked over at Malfoy, who was flushed and looking pissed. He snickered and took a sip of his firewhisky.

“Hello, everyone. Thanks for coming. I know it might be strange for some of you, but let’s try to get along,” Hermione said. “Drink responsibly, please.”

With a scoff, Harry downed his drink, grimacing at the burn. “Granger, you’re too kind.”

Hermione didn’t take the bait. Past Hermione might have. She just rolled her eyes as if Malfoy were a friend being annoying. Harry wondered how she'd feel when she found out she was talking to him. He knew they should tell their friends soon, but truth be told, he was enjoying the current situation. It was less stressful not being fussed over because when he was in his own body, people either treated him with pity or over-the-top hero worshiping. He hated both.

“If you get blacked out drunk, we’d have to bring you to the Gryffindor common room and nurse you back to health,” she said.

*She has the nerve to say that to you… I mean me! Potter, you better not get drunk. If my body ends up doing anything uncouth, I will die.*

“And who would be the head nurse?” Harry asked, smirking. He heard Malfoy make a strangled cry, though he covered it up with a cough.

“Who would you prefer?” Hermione asked. 

Harry looked around, his gaze slow, purposely lingering on several people. He shrugged. “Whoever.”

“Great!” Hermione grinned. Harry knew she was up to something with that look. She looked at Malfoy. “How about it, Harry? Up for being Malfoy’s babysitter slash nurse if he gets drunk?”

“I… are you insane, Hermione? Ron’s better at that mothering stuff.” Malfoy crossed his arms and then uncrossed them, trying to look unbothered, though Harry knew better.

“Me?” Ron jumped up and cheered. “Right, I’m on it! Malfoy, buckle up!” Ron was clearly already drunk.

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯

Draco took off Potter’s stupid glasses, squeezing the bridge of his nose. He would not last the night if Weasley didn’t stop pawing all over him, that is, all over Potter. A drunk Weasley was apparently a dangerous person to be around.

“Poor Malfoy,” Weaslette said, sliding up next to Draco, slinking her arm around the crook of Draco’s elbow. He swallowed back an irritated groan and looked at her. Her cheeks had a slight rosy glow, and her eyes were alight with what Draco could only assume was joy of seeing “Malfoy” being tortured by her brother.

“At least it isn’t one of us,” Draco said, rolling his eyes. “Are you drunk?”

“Nope, well, maybe slightly, but not as much as Ron,” Weaslette said, throwing her head back to laugh. Her long, red hair spilt over her pale shoulders, which shook as she giggled.

What kind of small talk would Potter make with an ex he never actually wanted to date? They were good friends still, right? Draco looked at her and tried not to cringe when she lay her head on his shoulder. This bunch was way too touchy-feely.

“Aren’t you cold in that shirt?” Draco asked. She was wearing a sleeveless top that left her shoulders and chest bare above her breasts, not to mention the couple of inches of skin showing above her blue jeans.

She groaned. “You’re not my father, Harry. I’m fine.”

“Whatever you say, Gin.”

~Look at you using her proper nickname.~

*Stop spying on our conversation, creep.*

~This room isn’t exactly a fortress, Malfoy! Plus, you know, people think the words they speak out loud before saying them, right? You do that a lot.~

*And I’m just sure all the most embarrassing bits get through to you.*

From across the room, Potter laughed. Draco put Potter’s glasses back on and looked over at the sound. Sure enough, a couple of people were giving Potter curious glances, wondering what would cause Malfoy to laugh out of the blue suddenly.

It might have had something to do with damn Weasley, who was so close to Potter’s personal space, he might as well have been sitting on his lap.

*You laughing at me or at what Weasley is doing… wait, what IS he doing? Why did he touch my side like that? Is HE ticking me… I mean you?*

“Gin, excuse me, I need a drink.” Draco pulled away from Weaslette and went to pour himself a firewhisky.

🤯🤯🤯

“Wealsey, get your paws off me,” Harry groaned, trying to shake Ron. He was taking his babysitter role quite seriously, much to everyone’s enjoyment, except Malfoy’s, who kept glaring at Harry.

“No, dun wanna,” Ron said, giggling. He sounded a lot like Ginny when he giggled. 

He poked Harry in the side. Harry jumped, trying not to laugh again. Malfoy did not seem to care for him laughing out of nowhere, even if it was perfectly normal to laugh when someone was tickling you. Who would have guessed Malfoy was so ticklish? Harry didn’t think he was this sensitive when he was in his own body, at least. “Keep your hands to yourself,” Harry said, trying to shove Ron away, but not wanting to be too harsh about it. This was Ron, after all.

*You’re making me look like a fool!*

~Ron’s doing it!~

“But Malfoy, I am your bebe-siter,” Ron said, grabbing onto Harry’s hand. “I have to make sure you’re safe.”

“You really should not drink anymore, Weasley.” Inwardly, Harry was laughing his ass off. Outwardly, he tried to look disgruntled. “Weasley, go babysit Granger.” Harry looked at Hermione and tried to look like he was pissed, similar to how Malfoy looked across the room. “Look what you did, Her-ell this sucks,” Harry said.

*I heard that slip-up, Potter. Don’t ruin our cover.*

~As if you haven’t almost slipped up a couple of times, Malfoy.~

“This is out of my hands,” Hermione said. She laughed and then walked off, completely ignoring who she thought was Malfoy.

*I’m a laughing stock!*

Seamus and Dean were huddled together, looking at Harry and Ron, giving them amused looks and slightly laughing. Malfoy’s own friends, Nott and Zabini, were grinning wickedly and chuckling, sharing whispers. Not one of them looked like they were mocking Harry and Ron, even if they believed Harry was Malfoy.

~They are not laughing at you in a mean way, Malfoy. Use your ears; can’t you detect the difference? They’re more amused at Ron acting like a drunk.~

Harry tried to pull his hand away from Ron, but he tightened his grip and pouted at him. It was no use. Ron was stuck to him. He knew Malfoy was about to malfunction, but Harry enjoyed the closeness of his best friend. It helped him stay grounded while at the party.

Even if most of these people were his good friends, they were still all packed together in a small room, which made it suffocating at times. Harry hated it. He wanted to feel normal. Not like the walls might close in at any moment. Maybe he shouldn’t have had firewhisky. It was probably contributing to his anxiety. He looked at the glass he was currently holding and set it down.

Harry glanced at Malfoy and was surprised to see that his glare had softened. Malfoy’s thoughts weren’t currently coming through, but Harry had a feeling Malfoy was giving up, allowing Harry a pass so that he would feel comfortable. It touched something profound inside Harry. It was unexpectedly tender and unexpected, though Harry knew he could be reading into things. Looking away from Malfoy, Harry tried to hide a smile.

Luna walked over to Harry and leaned forward, peering into his eyes. She gave him a dreamy smile. “It’s good to see you having fun even though you’re not quite yourself these days.” Before he could respond, Luna waltzed away and pulled Ginny into the middle of the room for a dance. There wasn’t any music playing.

~Not to alarm you, but I think Luna knows.~

*How in… How could she?*

~Luna knows things. She always has. Don’t worry, she also knows when to keep it to herself.~

“Ah!” Parkinson said, watching Luna and Ginny dancing in the centre of the room. “Good idea.” She ran over to Hermione and whispered something to her. Hermione nodded. Harry watched them fiddle with something in the back of the room, and then suddenly, there was a slow dance song playing.

“How could we have forgotten the music?” Hermione said, laughing.

“Don’t be shy. Everyone, go dance, or we can even make it into a game. Who is daring?” Hermione grinned, looking at everyone, her eyes lingering on Malfoy.

Harry saw an evil glint in Hermione’s eyes, and Parkinson looked just as diabolical. They were up to something.

“Game!” Parkinson begged. “It’s so much more fun that way.”

Everyone agreed, although some did more reluctantly.

Malfoy looked like he’d rather eat a toad, but since he was pretending to be Harry, he gave in quickly. Harry coughed to cover up a giggle that would be so undignified for a Malfoy.

*You are having way too much fun, Potter. You know that bullshit Malfoy stuff isn’t THAT important to me anymore, right? I am not my father. I hate my name.*

~I am. Thanks for noticing, darling.~

*Do NOT pull a Theodore move on me. One annoying fr.. person is enough, Potter.*

Harry caught that slip and could even feel the embarrassment flowing from Malfoy. He decided not to say anything for now, but he couldn’t control whether Malfoy heard his thoughts about it. At any rate, Harry was happy about the slip-up.

~If you hate your name so much, maybe I shouldn’t be using it, Draco.~

Glancing at Draco, Harry saw that he was flustered.

*Do what you wish.*

~I will, but it’s only fair that you call me Harry.~

*Fine.*

~Good.~

Hermione pointed her wand at an empty goblet and grinned. “I’ve put everyone’s names in this goblet. I will draw dance partners, and you must dance or… Pansy, what’s the penalty?”

“Hm?” Parkinson rubbed her chin. “Striptease? We’re all of age here, right?” She looked at everyone and smirked. They were all indeed of age. That didn’t mean anyone wanted to strip, so it was a good way to get people to dance with partners they wouldn’t usually dance with.

“Sit out if you don’t agree with the terms,” Hermione said. “The item of clothing to be removed will be random.”

“Hermione, you dog,” Ron slurred, nearly falling onto Harry’s lap.

Predictably, Harry and Draco’s names were drawn together.

*You should feel so lucky. I’m a great dancer, H-Harry.*

~I’m not; you remember my disaster at the Yule Ball.~

Harry caught a small smile on Draco’s face. *We all remember, I’m sure.*

“They’re going to strip,” Ginny said, confident that they wouldn’t dance together.

“This will be interesting either way,” Seamus added.

Rolling his eyes, Harry scoffed, finally managing to get Ron off him. Ron went over to Hermione and pouted. She patted his back, giving him a fond look. “There, there, Ron.”

“I don’t back down from any dares. Even if it means I have to touch him.” Harry walked over to Draco and grabbed his hand. “Well, Potter?”

Draco stuck his face close to Harry’s, their breath mingling. “You wish I would refuse because you don’t want to look like the loser who does it first, Malfoy.”

“Ha! Takes one to know one, Potter!”

*This is so stupid. Do you think we’re fooling them?*

~Hell if I know. Everyone’s a little tipsy at least, so probably.~

“Whatever, come on,” Draco said, yanking on Harry’s hand and pulling him into the middle of the room. “I’m leading.”

“Like hell you are,” Harry said. He grabbed Draco’s hips and pulled him closer forcefully, raising an eyebrow when he heard Malfoy gasp at the sudden movement.

~Did you like that, Draco?~

*Shut up! You know it looks like I just staked a claim on you or something with a move like that.*

“Don’t let me win then,” Harry said, leaning forward to whisper into Draco’s ear.

*This is a fucking weird sensation; dancing with yourself more or less.*

~True, but I still know I’m dancing with you. You’re in my body, but I can see your spirit through my eyes when you glare at me. Or when you smile at me, Draco.~

*When have I smiled at you, Harry?*

~Don’t play dumb.~

“Well, those two are drunk,” Neville said, chuckling as he watched Draco and Harry have a fight for who was leading the dance.

“Neville, you’re dancing with…dun, dun, dun…Theodore!” Parkinson yelled, waving the paper with their names.

“Strip or dance, boys?” Hermione asked them.

“Dance, of course,” Nott said, grinning at Neville. “Well, come on, darling.”

~His darling toward Neville sounded different from when he said it to me, well, you,~ Harry said to Draco as they danced. They gave up on fighting over who led and just started to go with the flow.

It wasn’t that bad. It was actually nice.

*The difference is that I am not his type, plus we’re friends.*

Harry laughed, unable to stop himself. Everyone was in their own world, so nobody paid them much mind, except Luna, who was giving them knowing looks.

“Are you saying it sounds different when it’s toward a person he’s actually attracted to?” Harry asked quietly into Draco’s ear.

*Stop getting so close to my ear, Harry! Yes, that is what I’m saying.*

The only response Harry could give Draco was a smile. Draco smiled back and then groaned in annoyance, smacking Harry on the top of his head.

“Stop making my face look like that,” Draco whispered.

~Stop making me make your face look like that, Draco.~

*I’m doing nothing of the sort, Harry.*

Harry chuckled. ~How should I make your face look?~

*Grumpy because I’m dancing with you.*

~But you seem to be enjoying this.~

Draco scoffed. Seeing his own face scoffing at him almost made Harry lose it. It shouldn’t have been that funny, but it was.

*You’re not as bad when it’s a slow song, but that doesn’t mean I’m enjoying anything.*

Draco’s thoughts betrayed him a moment later. ‘I guess I kind of like it.’ Harry knew those were not thoughts Draco meant to think or direct toward Harry.

~I like it, too.~

*I didn’t say…*

~It’s pointless to lie, Draco. What’s the big deal about enjoying a dance with someone?~

Groaning, Draco rolled his eyes. *Fine, whatever, but it is not because it is with YOU. Dancing is just fun in general.*

~You’re cute when you’re flustered.~

Draco gripped Harry’s shoulders tighter and glared at him. The glare didn’t seem that genuine.

*I look like you, dumbass. Bloody Narcissus Complex…*

~Did you compare me to a Greek God? Why, thank you. How flattering. I’m well aware of what you look like, Draco. Your actions and words are yours, no matter what body you’re in.~

*Stop flirting. You’re drunk.*

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯

Draco jolted out of bed, breathing hard, his entire body covered in cold sweat. Agonising pain stabbed at his head, at his… Harry’s scar. He pressed his fingers against it, trying to figure out why he was screaming and nobody was coming to his aid, Harry’s aid, at least. That was when it registered that the screaming was inside his head. Harry was screaming, thinking incoherent thoughts, and amid these thoughts, a scene was unfolding.

It was like Draco was standing in the flat. He saw a tall man who looked like Harry. There was a flash of green, and the man fell to the ground. A woman ran into a bedroom, and it was like Draco was apparated in with her.

Her green eyes were wide in panic, tears spilling down her cheeks as she begged for the life of her child to be spared. The child was behind her, standing up, his hands gripped around the edge of the crib, tears dribbling down his chubby cheeks, his green eyes that mirrored his mother’s were wide and terrified.

Baby Harry wailed, and Draco wanted to go over and hold him, but all he could do was experience this memory Harry was sharing through their mind link. There was a cruel laugh and then another flash of green. Harry’s mother crumbled, and little Harry tried to reach his arms through the crib bars to get to her.

“Mummy! Mummy!” The sound of Harry’s voice in Draco’s head was a mixture of child Harry and adult Harry.

There was another mocking laugh and one last flash of green light. Baby Harry still cried, now alone. He rattled the bars, his magic flickering, shattering everything around him, yet he was still trapped in the crib. 

Everyone had heard reports that the inside of Godric Hallow was destroyed, everything broken, though now Draco was seeing with his own eyes that it was because one-year-old Harry had an outburst of uncontrollable accidental magic. Grunting with effort, Baby Harry tried to reach his mum again, but couldn’t, no matter how hard he tried.

Draco gasped, feeling like someone was physically choking him. He tore at his neck, leaving scratches, thrashing on the bed. It took him several minutes to snap out of his own panic. He whimpered when the memory started to repeat.

*Harry! Please…it’s not…* He wanted to say that it wasn’t real, but it was real. How often did Harry think about his parents’ passing? How did he still have the memory of this as an eighteen-year-old?

He got no answer from Harry, which alarmed him. Though it gave him pause, this could be a nightmare. That meant that Harry was currently making a scene in the Slytherin dorm room, right? He was probably screaming for real, using Draco’s body to do so.

Draco didn’t care as much about that as he might have before. Let Theodore and Blaise think whatever they needed to. Most likely, they would assume he was having a dream about one of his own horrors.

Grabbing Harry’s glasses and wand, he cast a spell to change his clothing and then quietly got out of bed, opening the trunk to get Harry’s cloak.

*I don’t know if you can hear me if you’re in a dream, but I’m coming, alright? I don’t care if Theo and Blaise see me looking like you.*

🤯🤯🤯

Draco ran as fast as he could, not even caring if his feet showed beneath the cloak. He assumed they did at one point, because he heard Peeves cackling at him.

Several times, he stumbled, almost falling because Harry’s nightmare seemed to get even more horrific, if possible. Draco witnessed Harry in the graveyard and saw Cedric die. He could physically feel Harry's pain and guilt. Harry was lost in all his most horrible traumas.

Draco vomited and cast a cleaning spell as he ran, hardly even thinking about it. *Please wake up, Harry!*

Bursting into the Slytherin Dungeons, he ran toward his dorm room. As expected, Blaise and Theodore were frantic, trying to wake up Harry, who was screaming and flailing around.

“Draco!” Theodore yelled. “Come on, wake up. What is it?” He sounded like a wounded cat that had been kicked across the room. Draco had no idea Theodore cared this much about him.

Likewise, Blaise was troubled, his eyes wide and red-rimmed. Blaise did not cry. Why did it look like he had been?

There was no time to think. Draco threw off the cloak and ran to Harry’s side. “I'll explain later,” Draco yelled. “Hey, wake up. It’s alright now. I’m here.” He touched Harry’s shoulder and was startled when he reacted like a venus flytrap, his arms and legs curling around Draco, pulling him down, trapping him. Harry still wasn’t awake.

“Potter? Are you and he…” Theodore blinked.

“N-no, not like that,” Draco said.

“I need to sit down. Please help him.” Blaise went to his bed, sitting down, putting his head in his hands.

“I’m so confused, but if you can do something, please do! He’s been screaming for thirty minutes, and we couldn’t wake him up.” Theodore sat down next to Blaise.

Thirty minutes? Draco knew their minds didn’t link up all the time, and guilt ate at his gut knowing that Harry had been suffering so long before he found out.

*Harry, I’m with you now. Theodore and Blaise have been trying to wake you up. I-I’m scared, Harry. I don’t want you to be feeling like this.*

Harry stopped screaming and thrashing, but he was still breathing heavily, and images were still playing in Draco’s mind.

*What can I do to stop your nightmare?*

When he had nightmares, back before he was old enough to know what was going on in the world, his favourite house elf would come in to care for him like his mum should have.

That was Dobby. Draco of before acted like his house elves didn’t mean much to him, but in truth, they were the only beings in the Manor that cared about him in a non-toxic way. Dobby would pat his head and lie down with him, whispering comforting words or sharing random stories to distract Draco.

Taking Dobby’s example, Draco moved Harry until he was in a more comfortable position in his arms. He stroked his hair, knowing what it looked like to Theodore and Blaise, but he didn’t care. *Harry, I did like dancing with you, and not just because I like dancing in general. I slipped up and almost called you my friend because I've started to feel like we're friends. I’ve wanted to be your friend since I was eleven.*

Encouraged when Harry’s breathing started to become more normal and the memories less frequent, Draco went on. *I was blushing when I said it was because of your body temperature, and I acknowledge that was a lame excuse. Will you please wake up, Harry?* The nightmares stopped. Draco shuddered at the sudden release of mental torture. 

~D-Draco?~ Harry’s thought voice was weak and confused.

*You were having a nightmare,* Draco explained. 

~You came again?~

*Of course I did. Did you hear the things I was saying to you?*

Harry’s eyes were still shut as if he was scared to open them. ~I think so. Some of them. I want to be your friend, too.~

*Good. We need to talk to Theodore and Blaise. They care about me more than I thought. They’re very shaken right now.* Draco looked over at his friends, who were looking at them like they were two dragons making love, though he detected their relief that Harry, whom they thought was him, was no longer screaming.

~Oh, right. They would think… right. I must have scared them. Oh, man. I haven’t had a nightmare that intense in a while.~

Finally, Harry opened his eyes, and Draco saw his own eyes staring back. It was still jarring, but he could see Harry’s soul peeking out at him.

“Thank you for coming,” Harry said with a small smile.

Draco returned the smile. “I- anytime.”

Sitting up, they remained in each other’s space as if they couldn’t handle not touching just yet. Draco found his hand clasping Harry’s, and he wasn’t sure who grabbed onto the other first. “I’m sorry, guys,” Harry said. “I guess we’ve got a lot to tell you.”

“It’s not that,” Draco said, grinning. He glanced at Harry and quickly looked away.

“It’s time to gather the others,” Harry said. “Let’s four go to the Room of Requirement and once…Harry’s friends get there, we will talk.”

“Harry?” Theodore whispered. “He’s Harry to you now?”

“You sure it’s not that?” Blaise asked.

Draco flushed, and looking at Harry, he saw that he was also flustered.

“I guess that means you’re Harry to all of us,” Theodore said. “Friends of friends and all that. Let’s go.”

“Friends, is it?” Blaise smirked. “Just friends. Alright. Got it.”

Draco wondered how Blaise would feel to have who he thought was Draco smack him over the head when he found out it was actually Harry. He didn’t get to think about it long. Harry got out of bed and walked over to Blaise, smacking him lightly on the forehead. Draco wondered if his thought had gotten through to Harry or if he’d done that on his own. Either way, it was hilarious. 

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯

*Remind them to get Pansy,* Draco told Harry as he, Theodore, and Blaise were leaving the room. He glanced over at his body double and raised an eyebrow. It was so weird being together in the same room. This whole thing was almost fine when they were apart, even if they sometimes thought or experienced some embarrassing or traumatic things. Draco was learning more about Harry, and he liked that.

~I like it, too.~ Harry grinned cheekily. Theodore and Blaise gave them strange looks as they smirked and smiled back and forth, having no idea what was going on with them. 

~And yes, I heard that thought, Draco. No need to deny it.~

*Whatever. Don’t get a huge head, Harry.*

~I won’t, but you need to learn how to be more honest with yourself, especially around me, considering…~

*Yeah, yeah, don’t you think I know that?*

“Why are you two just standing there?” Theodore asked, giving Harry a light nudge. “Didn’t you say we needed to meet up with Harry’s friends?”

“I think they’ve both hit their heads or something,” Blaise said, waving a hand in front of Harry’s face, causing him to jump out of the telepathic conversation he was having with Draco.

“Oh, sorry! Can one of you grab Pansy?” Harry asked. “She’ll whine if we leave her out.”

~Did I do that right?~

*Yes, I would have said exactly that!*

🤯🤯🤯

Hermione yawned, going over to plop down on a couch the Room of Requirement had created for this impromptu meetup Harry had requested. It was four in the morning, but at least it was a Saturday. “Harry, this is unusual,” Ginny said, rubbing her eyes. “Why did you drag us out of bed?” She sat down next to Hermione, falling against her side.

Luna jumped on the couch next to them and spread out over their laps. She giggled and cuddled up against them. They didn’t seem to mind. It looked like the three would fall back asleep soon, so Harry walked over to them. All they saw was Malfoy standing in front of them.

“First of all…” Harry started.

“Malfoy?” Hermione questioned.

“I’m not Malfoy,” Harry said, trying not to laugh. This was meant to be a serious moment. It was a serious moment. His horrific nightmare was what prompted this meeting in the first place. He was going to have to tell everyone a couple of things today. He didn’t like the idea of worrying his friends, but they had to know he was having nightmares again.

“What the fuck?” Ron said. “Uh…is this second year all over again? Polyjuice…?”

Harry laughed. “No, but good guess.”

*Second year? Polyjuice?*

~Ron and I snuck into the Slytherin Dungeons to find out if you knew who the heir of Slytherin was. We polyjuiced ourselves as Crabbe and Goyle.~

*Ah! I remember that day! That was when I thought those two were acting so strange. I can’t believe it was you guys!* Draco looked at Harry, his eyes wide. He tried not to think too much about Vincent, but the pain hit him anyway.

Harry winced, feeling his pain coming through the link. Why did it seem like only embarrassing and trauma-related things got through? ~Sorry for reminding you.~

Theodore and Blaise exchanged glances. Since they witnessed the nightmare “Draco” had and saw “Harry” run to his aid, things were starting to make sense to them, though everyone else still hadn’t quite caught on.

“We don’t know how it happened,” Draco said. “Oh, and I’m Draco. That’s Harry.”

“Draco? Harry?” Neville said as he tried to stifle a yawn. “First name basis?”

“Shouldn’t you be more curious about them switching bodies?” Pansy exclaimed. “Whoa…so what spell backfired?”

Draco sighed. “No spell. It was something we woke up to the other night.” He caught his bottom lip in his teeth. “I’m sorry, Weasley, Granger… I mean, can we do first names, too?”

“Of course,” Hermione said. Ron nodded. “Why are you saying sorry?”

“Because it was the night you were worrying about Harry. I didn’t know how to react! I mean, Ron held my hand, for goodness sake! I almost thought he was going to kiss me.”

Ron snorted. “I might have. We don’t like to hold back our affection these days, Draco.” He puckered his lips, and Draco held his hands up, backing away.

Hermione frowned. “So you know why we were acting like that, Draco? Harry told you?” She glanced at Harry, still having a hard time wrapping her head around him being inside Draco’s body.

“Yes,” Draco answered softly, though Harry hadn't exactly told him willingly because of the mind link.

“It’s no secret that we all have baggage left over from the war,” Harry said, crossing his arms. He didn't like being so exposed, but he was still grateful that everyone cared so much. He glanced at the three Slytherins who were still in the dark about his darker spirals.

Theodore walked over to Harry and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We get it, Harry. You might find that hard to believe, but we do. You don’t have to say more than you want around us, though.”

Sighing, Harry smiled at him. “Thank you.”

Pansy’s eyes widened as she finally caught onto what Hermione and Ron were insinuating. “Oh… oh.” She frowned and then looked at Harry, awkwardly shuffling her feet. “Harry… I’m sorry!” She blurted. “I offered to turn you in… I was so scared.”

“I don’t hold a grudge, Pansy. You only did what many others probably thought about doing from each house.” Harry looked down. “It isn’t like I don’t understand.”

“Still, I’m a bitch sometimes, but even…”

Harry waved his hand. “No more about that.”

Pansy nodded. “Alright.”

Blaise wrapped his arm around Pansy’s shoulders.

“Let’s move on to the most shocking part of this body swapping,” Harry said. Draco and Harry looked at each other.

“We can read each other’s minds sometimes and talk telepathically,” Draco said. “Earlier, I heard…” He tilted his head. “Harry?”

“Oh,” Harry flushed, looking down. It was his place to talk about the nightmares if he wanted to. He was thankful Draco waited to say anything.

*Of course. It’s very personal stuff, but they are your friends. They would want to know the nightmares are happening again, right?*

~You are going soft on me,~ Harry said, smiling.

*Hm…well, I can’t exactly lie when you’ll hear the truth anyway.*

Harry laughed. Everyone gave him startled looks.

“Sorry, Draco said something dumb.”

“Hey!”

“Anyways, so Draco woke up to me having… a nightmare.” Harry rubbed his arms, frowning. “It was bad. Theodore and Blaise said they tried to wake me up for thirty minutes.”

“We don’t always hear thoughts, so…” Draco frowned. “When I did start to see the vision of Harry’s nightmare in my head, I went to check on him, and that is how Theodore and Blaise saw us and made assumptions. You can guess what kind.”

“Oh, Harry,” Ginny said with a frown. “I’m so sorry.”

“We know the nightmares come and go,” Harry said, shrugging.

“Want me to… no wait, I can’t.” Ron rubbed the back of his neck. “I was going to offer to share your bed so you’d maybe have fewer nightmares, but since you look like Draco, you can’t be in the Gryffindor Tower.”

“We volunteer,” Theodore said. “If Draco was in his body and I tried to share his bed, he’d probably bite me, though.”

“You kick in your sleep, Theodore!” Draco huffed. “Sleepovers with you always ended with me kicked off the bed.”

~Baby Draco and Theodore having sleepovers is the cutest image!~

*Shut up!* Draco flushed, refusing to look at Harry.

Harry chuckled. “So now we are here to tell you all about the weird bond thing we have,” he said. “We don’t know what it is.”

Hermione perked up, looking at Draco. “Is that why you were asking about soul and mind bonds, Harry? I mean, Draco.”

“AH!” Pansy exclaimed. She started to giggle uncontrollably. “Wait… wait…I can’t breathe. Oh Merlin! Are you two actually soulmates?” She dug her head into Blaise’s side.

“Shut up, slut,” Draco grumbled. It was practically a term of endearment. It only caused Pansy to giggle more. She had hit a nerve.

“I know I look great. Thanks, Draco.”

“Soulmate magic is rare,” Luna said tiredly from Hermione and Ginny’s laps. 

“It’s…” Draco trailed off because he had no idea what to say.

“If it is a soul and mind bond,” Neville said, “why did it happen to you two, and why now?”

“Yeah, what were you doing before going to sleep?” Ron asked. “Something had to have been triggered if you woke up bonded.”

Harry and Draco looked at each other, their thoughts already answering for them, and of course, they could hear each other this time.

‘I saw Draco in the hallway and wished things could have been different.’

‘I ran into Harry on the way to Slytherin Dungeons and wondered how things would have been if things were different.’

“We saw each other in the halls,” Harry said. “Not much happened. We just…”

“Looked at each other and went on our ways,” Draco added.

“Old magic is all around us,” Hermione said, looking around the Room of Requirement to get her point across. “It seems some attached itself to both of you.”

“It’s fate,” Luna giggled.

“Bloody weird,” Ron added. “I better not wake up in Pansy’s body tomorrow.”

“Ew, gross,” Pansy mock gagged. Then she grinned wickedly, looking him up and down, causing Ron to flush with embarrassment.

“Forget I even said that,” Ron said. “No more body switching, old magic, you hear me!”

Harry laughed, feeling a lot better, even after having a nightmare like that.

“Come here, Harry. Join our body pile,” Ginny said.

He walked over to the girls, and Ginny pulled him down on top of Luna, who giggled and didn’t seem to mind being squashed.

“Everyone!” Luna yelled.

Neville and Ron walked closer and were pulled down before they could refuse.

The Slytherin looked at the pile of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.

“Uh…” Theodore laughed. “Looks like you’ve got enough people there.”

“Theo,” Luna begged. “There’s room by Neville.”

Pansy pushed Theodore toward the couch and burst into laughter when Luna grabbed him, pulling him down on top of Neville, who squeaked in surprise. She flung herself on top of him, smirking at how flushed Theodore was becoming.

~Draco, you better get your ass over here and bring Blaise. You’re in my body, so… you might as well get used to the weirdness.~

*Bloody…hell, fine.*

“Blaise.” Draco grabbed him and shoved him down on the pile, and then he jumped on top.

“Ugh! I’m going to die,” Hermione groaned. She, Ginny, and Luna were on the bottom. “Who kicked me?”

“Someone smells really good,” Luna said, giggling. “Oh, that’s my butt.”

“Sorry,” Ron flushed.

“Hands!” Neville exclaimed. 

“Fuck, sorry, Neville,” Theodore said. “I swear I did not do that on purpose.”

“How long do these human piles usually last?” Blaise asked dryly. His voice might have lacked emotion, but he was smiling slightly.

“As long as they need to last,” Harry answered, laughing. Somehow, even between all the bodies, his hand found Draco’s.

~This is your hand? I’m not holding Pansy’s, right?~

*You know it’s mine… It’s your hand, Harry!*

~Thanks for waking me up from my nightmare. I’m sorry you had to see that.~

*I’m glad I could help.*

Harry smiled, leaning his head against Luna’s back. His friends were something else.

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯

Rumours followed the odd mix of students. Those not close to the situation could not understand why several Slytherins were suddenly mingling among Harry and his friends. It wasn’t strange for them to see Luna, a Ravenclaw, with the group of Gryffindor. She had been their friend for years and had played a significant part in winning the war. Draco did as well, of course, but people weren’t forgetting he was a Death Eater. He had given Harry a wand when Harry seemed to come back from the dead. Without the wand, would the war have been won?

Despite showing his true colours when they most counted and being allowed to come back to Hogwarts, Draco had been keeping his head down ever since returning for his eighth year. He never made any effort to communicate with anyone. Now, seemingly, out of the blue, he was. Nobody could quite grasp the change.

“Isn’t it weird?” A Hufflepuff whispered to her friend. She glanced behind her at Draco and Harry, who were sitting together in the library.

“Yes. Why are they acting like friends? Is it because…they’re all eighth-year students, except Ginny and Luna?”

“You mean that’s enough for them to bond?” The Hufflepuff asked with wide eyes. She brushed curly hair from her shoulder and narrowed her eyes, practically burning a hole in the back of Draco’s head.

“He was a Death Eater…”

“Yeah, but…”

The two girls continued to talk as they watched the unlikely pair, making no effort to be quiet about it. It was as if they wanted Harry and Draco to hear them.

~Ignore them,~ Harry said, lowering his face into his hands so hard that he knocked his elbows on the table, sending painful vibrations through his arm. At least being in Draco’s body had some perks. This sudden movement would have crushed his glasses into his face had he been in his own body.

*It doesn’t really hurt me. I’m used to people talking like that about me, but you…*

~As if people don’t talk about me?~ Harry laughed, raising his head out of his hands, staring across the table at Draco, watching his own face fall into a lopsided smile that wasn’t quite a smirk, but near enough.

*But I should think…*

“Never mind about that,” Harry said. He rolled his eyes and sat up straighter, sighing.

~Let people think what they want to. I don’t care anymore.~

*I’ve been sharing your mind long enough to know you never cared. Which was surprising, I admit,* Draco said. He rubbed his hands under his glasses and then took them off, setting them on the table.

*I always assumed you ate up all the fame stuff. I mean… who wouldn’t?*

~Not everyone knows the full story!~ Harry crossed his arms and groaned. Of all people, Draco? He knew more than anyone would ever know, even his own best friends.

*It isn’t like I had a choice about knowing, Harry!* Draco rubbed his eyes again. *Glasses are annoying, by the way.*

Harry chuckled. “You get used to them.”

“I suppose so.”

Dean walked past their table, pausing. “I’ve overheard some of your conversation. It’s weird, not in the way those girls mean…” He glared at the two gossiping girls, making them flush. They gathered their books and fled the library.

*Never thought I’d see the day Thomas sticks up for whatever this is…*

~Friendship, Draco.~

Draco rolled his eyes. Dean raised an eyebrow, and Harry figured he thought the expression was for him.

“What of it, Thomas?” Harry grumbled. He was supposed to be acting like Draco, but he did feel a little bad about being grumpy with Dean. He wasn’t as close with Dean as he was with his other friends, but they were still friends.

“Just that you seem to be answering or responding to things that were not voiced,” Dean answered, not seeming to take much notice of Harry’s pretend annoyance.

Draco put Harry’s glasses back on and looked at Dean, shrugging. “Are you saying you don’t have a strange code with F… Seamus?”

~Careful, Draco, we’re still pretending with the wider population. Dean’s a friend, but I don’t want people outside our closest friends to know about this.~

*You don’t have to tell me twice! I’m not used to being casual with most people. It’s weird.*

“We do,” Dean agreed. He laughed, shaking his head. “Whatever. I just never saw the day that Malfoy and Harry would have a code.” With a bemused expression, he walked away.

*I’m glad we can be entertainment for these people!* Harry laughed, and Draco sent him a half-hearted glare, only making Harry laugh harder.

🤯🤯🤯 

Draco picked up his potion textbook and flipped through it. He put it back down with a sigh. People really were staring at them. He glanced around the room and watched as people’s eyes darted away from him. They thought he was Harry, of course. They were probably trying to figure out why Harry was sitting between Theodore and Draco of all people, with Neville on the other side of Theodore.

Next to their table was another strange mix of students: Ron, Hermione, Pansy, and Blaise. Draco could not recall a time when classes had mixed groups of students sitting together. It shouldn’t have been a big deal, but since it was the two houses with the most rivalry, it really threw people for a loop.

“Nice to see some unity,” Professor Slughorn said as he came out of the storeroom.

“It’s about time,” Hermione said.

“Yes, quite.” Slughorn waved his wand at the chalkboard. “There’s the potion you’re making today. Groups of two, please.”

*Let me handle getting the ingredients,* Draco said, standing up and walking into the storeroom. Other students from other teams followed him.

~Thanks. You have always been good at potions.~

*Flattery will get you nowhere, Harry.*

Draco heard Harry snickering in the other room. He rolled his eyes and started to gather what he needed.

“One thing before you start,” Slughorn said, “Headmistress McGonagall found someone to fill this class permanently. I only came back as a favour.” He grinned, tapping his fingers on top of his desk. A hush fell over the room. It was a heavy silence.

~Do you think he's returning?~

Draco didn't have to ask who Harry meant or even need to read his mind. *He was pardoned, but-*

“I am sure you all know the circumstances surrounding Professor Snape’s dealings in the war?” Slughorn asked.

~Impossible…would he even want to come back?~ Harry's thought voice sounded strained.

Draco looked across the room as he made his way back over to the table with Harry. All colour drained from Harry's face, his hands trembling. His anxiety was flowing between their mind link, making Draco wince. He dropped his supplies on the table, sitting next to Harry. Not caring if anyone saw, he reached for Harry’s hand under the table to ground him. He could feel the inner turmoil within Harry. Draco understood it all too well but tried to push away his own anxiety.

Though it was hard to do. Because of him, Severus had to kill Dumbledore. If only things could have been different.

~No, that was all… no, Draco. That was Dumbledore, not you, not even…. Not even Snape.~ Harry took a shuddering breath and squeezed Draco's hand. Draco wasn’t reading all of Harry’s thoughts at the moment, but his confused feelings were getting through. Fear, pain, forgiveness, regret… There was so much. It was overwhelming.

It was to the point where Draco no longer knew which emotions were Harry’s and which were his own; they shared so many of the same feelings.

“Are you saying… he’s coming back?” Ron asked quietly.

Ron’s question brought Draco back to the conversation going on around him and Harry. He blinked and then focused on Slughorn.

“Pensieve memories and the truth serum were enough to…” Slughorn started.

“But he killed Dumbledore!” Parvati exclaimed. She faltered upon noticing some people giving her upset looks. Draco was surprised anyone would, except those who knew the whole story. “I mean…he did.” She looked down, frowning.

Harry’s hand tightened around Draco’s. Memories of the tower started to play in Draco's mind. He squeezed his eyes shut, his free hand gripping the edge of the table. Were they his thoughts or Harry's?

~They can’t possibly understand, even if the Daily Prophet laid everything bare, even if the Ministry pardoned him… I get it. I do. I’m…~

The memories became more vivid. Dumbledore seemed to beg Severus for his life, though now Draco and Harry knew the truth. Dumbledore offering Draco protection. Dumbledore being hit and his fall. The blank look on Severus's face, but Draco knew him well enough to see a small flicker cross his expression.

Pain. 

*Harry, listen to me. Stay with me. Don’t go into the memory…* Draco pleaded. Even if Severus was innocent in the grand scheme of things, having his name brought up was enough to trigger many people into horrible memories. Especially Harry and Draco. He couldn’t even afford to think about himself now. Harry was about to spiral. This subject was brought up too suddenly, giving Harry no time to process it healthily. Those who would be affected the most should have been told in private, without an audience.

Leaning across Harry, Draco tapped Theodore. “Help me.”

Theodore nudged Neville, nodding toward Harry. Neville’s eyes widened. He reached over to the next table, poking Ron in the side, getting his and his tablemates' attention.

“Yes…” Slughorn was saying. Suddenly, there were several explosions at Harry and Ron’s tables. Not dangerous ones, but fumes were filling the air, making everyone cough. Slughorn waved his wand around, trying to clear some of the smoke.

Draco didn’t take the time to find out what his friends did. He grabbed Harry’s arm and dragged him out of the room. Pulling Harry’s cloak from his pocket, he unshrunk it and threw it across their heads. *Take your time. Let it out, Harry. We both can.*

~It's not even him that I'm... I don't know! He was a puppet, too... I just... Dumbledore... ugh!~ Harry leaned against Draco's side. Wetness spread across his shoulder.

*You have mixed feelings about Dumbledore?*

Draco heard Harry's thoughts. 'I love and hate him for what he did to...' The thought cut off, but Draco could guess the rest. He sighed, wrapping his arm around Harry's waist. He could understand that feeling all too well. *Do you hate Severus?*

~I don't know. When I found him in the shack, he shared so much with me about his past, his friendship with my mum, about how my dad and his friends bullied him, his part in being a spy for both sides... I'm unsure how to feel.~

*You still saved him. You gave him a second chance when you shared those memories with the Ministry. If you hadn't found him, he'd have died, too. You helped him be set free.*

Ron and Hermione came out of the classroom, their heads darting around. They looked frantic. Following them were Neville, Theodore, Pansy, and Blaise.

"Harry?" Ron whispered. 

"We're here," Draco said. "Cloak."

"Oh, thank..." Hermione dropped to her knees near them, feeling around until her arms were around Harry and Draco. "We're probably all going to have detention for that stunt."

Harry gave a watery laugh. "Thanks, though. I needed to get away."

"Worth it," Neville said, leaning against the wall.

"Most fun I've had in a while," Pansy said, snapping her bubble gum.

"Can we blow more things up?" Theodore asked with a laugh.

"I might know a trick or two to make it more colourful," Blaise said. He shared a look with Theodore, both grinning.

"You guys are the best," Harry said. "Sure, but get it out of your system before..." He trailed off. "You know."

They fell silent, everyone stuck in their own thoughts.

"It will be strange," Draco murmured. "But he's... I mean... he's my Godfather. I know most of you don't know him like I do."

~It's alright if you love him, Draco.~

*Thanks.*

"It will be strange, but when has life been anything but?" Neville asked.

"I doubt he's expecting a happy reaction," Ron mused.

~We can work through our trauma by giving him a spectacular welcome. Just imagine his face.~ Harry snorted. ~I'm feeling better. It pisses me off that topics like these aren't handled with more care.~

*You know how Slughorn is, and I agree, Severus will not expect a warm welcome.*

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯

~Have you seen Snape yet?~ Harry looked around the Slytherin dorm. He knew if he got up and explored the dungeons, he might run into Snape, but he wasn’t sure he was ready for that yet. Though since he looked like Draco and Draco was Snape’s Godson, it was very likely that Snape would seek him out soon. He wasn’t sure about that idea. Could he pull off pretending to be Draco?

*If I had seen him, my thoughts about that would have for sure gotten through our linking, Harry. Besides, you’re the one in the Dungeons.* 

Sighing, Harry pulled his legs up on his bed, and with wandless magic, he closed the curtain around him. ~I know. You have a point.~

*Oh, but McGonagall is pissed at Slughorn. He wasn’t supposed to tell us Snape was coming back like that! She’s going to announce it officially at breakfast tomorrow. She told me and the other Gryffindors earlier. She pulled me aside and told me before telling the rest.*

That made Harry feel better. He smiled, glad that McGonagall had tried to give him a heads-up. He wondered how many other people were being told in private. He was even more angry at Slughorn for blurting the news about Snape.

*Slughorn likes drama… Harry, are you alright? I can sneak down there if you need me to.*

Snorting, Harry shook his head. ~I appreciate the offer, but imagine if Snape showed up to tell me he was back and found you.~ He could feel amusement coming from Draco. It was a funny thought; Snape finding Harry Potter in Draco’s bed. Harry bit down on his lower lip when some indecent thoughts came to mind. His cheeks burned, and he hoped the mind link was not showing Draco anything.

*You’re not that lucky, Harry,* Draco said, and Harry could feel that he was embarrassed. *It loves to work when we think about… stuff. Why are you thinking about cuddling me?*

‘Oh, cuddling,’ Harry thought, laughing. He only heard the thought about cuddling. ‘Thank goodness.’

~You know that touching people helps keep me grounded, Draco.~ Harry rolled his eyes. ~It doesn’t mean anything.~

*Sure, whatever you say.*

 🤯🤯🤯

*It’s about to happen,* Draco said, looking across the Great Hall at Harry. He noticed that Theodore and Blaise were sitting closer to Harry than they would usually be. Even they must know how conflicted Harry was about Severus coming back. Draco was happy that he would get to see Severus again, but his stomach was doing somersaults at the idea of facing up to the man after what he had to do because of the unbreakable vow his mum had made him take.

~Dumbledore also made him do it,~ Harry pointed out. ~Yeah, I can tell it’s about to happen. Look at all the professors’ faces. It looks like McGonagall has swallowed a lemon.~

McGonagall stood up and tried to get everyone’s attention, but people were too focused on each other to pay attention to her. However, Draco did notice that there were groups of people looking at her with open apprehension. Those must be the people she already broke the news to.

“Quiet!” Hagrid bellowed. He didn’t even need to use a charm to make his voice carry across the large room.

“Thank you, Hagrid,” McGonagall said. She steepled her hands under her chin, tapping her fingers together as she gave the students a stern look.

“You might have noticed that Professor Slughorn is missing from the staff table…”

“Who cares,” someone from Ravenclaw blurted. There was an uproar of laughter. “He’s a fool.”

“Detention, Mr. Corner,” Flitwick said, shaking his head.

Draco covered up a snort. He was glad that it was other houses getting into trouble for once. So far, this year, Slytherin had been going under the radar. It made sense. The house was so much smaller now; it could hardly be considered a house anymore.

“Yes,” McGonagall said, clearing her throat. “As I was saying, Professor Slughorn only came back temporarily. Not many people are willing to teach at Hogwarts. I can’t imagine why,” she continued, laughing dryly.

*Because this place turned into a death house…*

~Seriously…people are going to think she’s lost it for letting Snape come back.~

Harry and Draco’s eyes met across the room. Draco raised his eyebrows, and Harry rolled his eyes. Theodore blew Draco a kiss and then laughed as Draco glared back at him.

“It sounds like McGonagall is beating around the bush,” Hermione said.

“What in the…” Draco trailed off and then whispered, “Is that a Muggle phrase?” Hermione nodded.

“It means she’s dragging this out and taking her sweet time to get to the news about Snape,” Ron said. He shoved a forkful of green beans into his mouth.

Several fell off the fork, ending up on the floor, making Draco grimace. He was surprised that any food got into Ron’s mouth with the way he ate. Ron’s table manners were appalling. Draco was sorry for Hermione.

“WHAT!” Several people yelled.

Draco blinked. Oh, so she shared the news. He’d been too distracted to pay attention.

~Cat’s out of the bag.~

Draco looked toward the staff table, his eyes widening as Severus entered the room to hushed voices. There was no yelling, at least not yet, as if everyone was too afraid to voice anything. Severus looked indifferent. His face was clearly masked. Draco knew him well enough to tell. As Severus walked to the staff table, his eyes swept across the room; he didn’t back down from looking at people bold enough to stare at him. Draco watched his eyes fall on Harry, who Severus had no reason to believe was anyone but his Godson, and then Severus looked at him.

~He’s looking at you… Well, me. What do you think he’s thinking about?~

*I’m honestly as clueless as you are, Harry.*

~In the shack, he sounded regretful. He thought he was dying, though…~

Draco sighed, putting his head down. He had to play the part of Harry, didn’t he? Harry wouldn’t want to become buddy-buddy with Severus right away. Or ever? He got no response from Harry, so Draco knew his thoughts weren’t currently getting through the mind link.

“You alright, Dr… Harry?” Neville whispered. Though their close friends knew the truth, they still had to call Draco and Harry by the wrong names around other people.

“Sure, sure,” Draco answered. “It’s a lot,” he admitted.

‘For both of us.’

 🤯🤯🤯

The first Eighth Year Potion class since Severus came back was an unusual mixture of students from all houses. Draco thought it made sense that the classes were more integrated between houses, given the low numbers of Eighth-year students. It was still strange to see it in practice. Severus walked out of his storeroom, and Draco saw his eyebrow raise slightly in surprise to find the two mixed Gryffindor and Slytherin tables.

*He did not expect us to be sitting together,* Draco said. It was amusing. He wondered what was going through Severus’s head.

~How could the Saviour let himself sit with two naughty Slytherins?~ Harry teased. It was safer to joke around and not let in their conflicted feelings about having Severus back.

From Severus’s point of view, he saw Draco sitting between Harry and Neville, with Theodore sitting on the other side of Neville. Then the other table had Ron, Pansy, Hermione, and Blaise. Draco wondered why Pansy was sitting between Ron and Hermione, but had a feeling she was up to something. No doubt wanting to confuse Severus even more.

The other tables were mixed as well, but none were as strange as having Gryffindor and Slytherin sitting together.

*This truly is the most unusual seating arrangement.*

~It’s the unity the professors have been going on about, so I guess… Oh, he’s talking…~ Harry’s thought voice trailed off as Severus started to speak.

“I’ve gone over Slughorn’s notes,” Severus said, as he shuffled around some papers in his hands.

*Is he just going to act like nothing happened?* Draco asked, leaning forward, putting his elbows on the table.

~Some might think that’s the safer option,~ Harry answered.

Draco looked at Harry, feeling the waves of mixed emotions flowing through their mind link. The room was eerily quiet, as if most people were waiting for someone to have an explosive reaction, probably expecting it to come from Harry.

~They still think I’m going to make a scene even though I’m the one who turned in the information that got Snape pardoned?~

Severus was still talking, going on about the potion they would be creating today, but Harry and Draco were barely paying attention. Draco wondered if anyone was paying attention.

Ron and Blaise got up and went into the storeroom to gather supplies. When they came back, other pairs took turns going into the room.

*Why are Ron and Pansy paired up?*

~Hermione seems pleased to be paired up with Blaise, though. He’s good at potions.~

Draco snorted. *Yeah, and no offence, but Ron isn’t exactly great at it, so why did the two best potion students at that table pair up and leave the not-as-great ones to pair up?*

~I don’t know, but it has Pansy written all over it.~ 

Harry and Draco started to work on their potion, seemingly without speaking a word to anyone not in the know about their situation.

*I’ve never seen him have such a hard time holding onto his mask, and he was a double agent…*

Draco went to put something in the caldron, but was stopped when Harry casually grabbed his wrist. Most students were used to the strange new inclusion of the Eighth Year Slytherin in Harry’s friend group, but it was still shocking to people who had no clue about them now getting along. “Not that one, Harry,” Harry said. “Pay attention.”

Next to them, Theodore and Neville tried to stifle laughter as Snape clumsily dropped his wand.

*You made Severus malfunction, Harry.*

“Sorry,” Draco said. “That would have been bad if I added that one. Nice catch, Draco.”

Now, Neville was having a full-on coughing fit. Theodore had to smack him on the back.

Snape snatched up his wand and swirled around, going into his storeroom.

~You broke him, Draco.~

“Neville, are you alright?” Theodore asked. Draco looked at Neville, who was red in the face and having a hard time catching his breath.

“I’m sorry,” Neville gasped. “I think I inhaled some dust.”

“Sure, you did,” Draco said. He looked over at Ron’s table. They were laughing, too. Everyone else looked bewildered.

“What’s so funny?” Lavender asked.

“It’s an inside joke,” Ron said. That caused another round of laughter, which became contagious. Soon, people who had no clue what was going on couldn’t help laughing, too.

~We broke everyone, and all we had to do was get along.~

*We didn’t even have to use a Laughing Potion.*

Despite being unable to stop laughing, everyone continued to work on their potions. Not even Snape could find a reason to give out a detention.

🤯🤯🤯

Harry wondered what Snape was thinking. He wasn’t ready to face him yet, let alone tell him that he and Draco swapped bodies and could read each other’s minds. It was strange not to hate Snape anymore fully, and Harry did not know what that meant for the future.

When Snape returned, Harry tried to casually watch his face as he took in the queer way everyone was acting. Draco was right; Snape was having a hard time keeping a blank look on his face. This was Snape’s first class since coming back, and Harry knew he probably expected something way different than a classroom of giggling students.

*He can’t figure out why everyone is in such a good mood.* Draco grinned, shaking his head. Now Snape was looking at who he thought was Harry, an eyebrow raised.

Harry inwardly winced when he watched Draco and Snape’s eyes meet, though Draco quickly looked down at the table. However, Draco was still smiling.

~Stop smiling like that. You’re making me look like a giddy schoolgirl, Draco!~

*How dare you! I’m smiling perfectly normally.*

~But it looked like you were smiling at Snape!~

*Uh…well, I didn’t mean to lock eyes or anything. I just happened to be smiling.*

Harry groaned. ~If rumours start about me having a weird crush on Snape, I swear to Merlin, Draco…~

Draco dropped in the last ingredient and then turned to glare at Harry. *Don’t go there. I wasn’t looking like…*

~How do you know how you look? You’re wearing my face. You smiled when locking eyes with Snape, and you were still smiling when you looked down. That’s textbook crush behaviour. At least, that's how some people think.~

*I wasn’t thinking about…*

Whatever Draco was currently thinking wasn’t coming through the mind link, but Harry didn’t need to be a mind reader to know. ~I know. I’m happy, too. Despite everything, people can still find reasons to feel happy, even if they're unsure what triggered the mood shift.~

*Yeah, also it’s fun messing with people.*

Harry swatted Draco’s arm and swore he heard Snape choking on his spit.

Ron leaned across the gap between the tables. “I think Snape will pull you aside to question your sanity if you two don’t knock it off,” he whispered into Harry’s ear.

Harry told Draco what Ron said and then added, ~How does he think it helps when it looks like he just whispered into Draco Malfoy’s ear?~

Draco put a hand over his mouth. *As long as he didn’t kiss me.*

~Are you trying not to laugh? What’s the point? Make a fool of me, Draco, darling. You’re going to make me jealous if you talk about Ron kissing you.*

“Ugh!” Draco blurted, his cheeks turning pink. “Professor, our potion is done, and welcome back!” He grabbed his bag and ran out of the room.

Snape only blinked in response.

~Draco! Why did you do that? The girls are giggling… You know the type of giggling I mean, right? For crying out loud, you jerk.~ Harry dropped his head into his hands.

*Keep your hormones in check next time,* Draco answered. Harry could feel that he was flustered.

“Time’s up, everyone leave,” Snape said, seeming to remember he was the one in charge.

Harry grabbed his bag and fled the room before Snape could call out to him.

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯

So far, Harry had managed to avoid Snape, trying not to make it too obvious for Draco’s sake. He knew that Draco cared for his godfather, and Harry was aware that Snape also cared for Draco. However, Harry wasn’t ready to confront his own feelings about Snape. He was surprised to realise that he no longer held onto any deep-seated anger or hatred toward him, though.

It was exhausting to cling to grudges. Harry understood that Snape didn't know who the prophecy was about. He knew Snape had tried to reason with Voldemort to spare his mum, and he was aware that Snape had gone to Dumbledore seeking help, too. But Dumbledore had his grand plan, didn’t he? More anger and confusion went toward Dumbledore than anyone else. He recognised that Dumbledore had manipulated Snape into killing him. In Snape’s memories, Harry saw how much he cared for Dumbledore like a father figure, yet Dumbledore still made him end his life.

Dumbledore had encouraged Snape to take the Unbreakable Vow. He might have meant it when he claimed it was to save Draco from a path he couldn’t come back from, yet Harry couldn’t understand how Dumbledore's mind worked. He doubted whether Dumbledore ever truly cared for him; had he only been a pawn in Dumbledore’s game, a piece of a puzzle meant to rid the world of a dark lord.

One of them had to die at the other's hand, and Dumbledore pushed Harry toward that fate, fully aware that Harry could die. After all, when he entered the magical world, he was just an eleven-year-old boy with an abusive family who hated him. Dumbledore seemed like a hero, so Harry would have done anything for him. That was all part of the plan as well. Harry understood this, and it hurt.

*I think the link is open more today,* came Draco’s voice, a gentle whisper in Harry’s mind. Harry shivered, trying to keep his thoughts clear, but he knew it was nearly impossible. *I’m hearing more of your thoughts, Harry.*

Harry flushed. Damn, the link was unpredictable. ~How much did you hear?~ He wasn’t currently receiving Draco’s thoughts, which was something they had learned about the link: it didn't always work both ways.

*I think maybe everything,* Draco said, sounding more troubled than Harry could ever remember.

~Oh, that's great,~ Harry said, shutting his eyes. ~I’m sorry. I know I was thinking about…~

*Stop,* Draco said, his voice slightly annoyed. *Don’t apologise for your thoughts and feelings, Harry. I appreciate that you would even think about me when it comes to Severus.*

Harry flopped back onto his bed, squeezing his eyes shut, waiting for Draco to continue.

*Severus is probably struggling with how to address both of us. I heard what you thought about him, the prophecy, and how Dumbledore manipulated both of you.*

Harry blinked. Draco had a point, didn’t he? He and Snape had both been manipulated by Dumbledore. It was strange to think they shared something in common, but it was true. Additionally, there was the fact that Harry had viewed Dumbledore as a father figure, or at least a grandfather figure, and Dumbledore likely knew this. That meant there were two things he had in common with Snape.

“Damn it,” Harry groaned. ~I don’t want to think about these things, Draco. I really don't want to think about anything related to the war.~

He curled up on his bed, pulling his knees up to his chest. It was like that little boy again, locked away in his cupboard with no one who loved him. It was as if he were alone, which seemed ridiculous because he knew he had friends who loved him. But they couldn't see or understand what he was feeling; often, he couldn’t understand himself, either.

*I’m here, Harry. I know you don’t want me seeing your private thoughts, but like it or not, I’ve heard them and seen them. It’s like visions playing in my head. I know I can’t fully understand what you’ve gone through, even with our mind link, but I’m not going anywhere.*

Refusing to let his emotions take over, Harry pressed his hand hard against his face until it stung slightly.

*Harry, don’t shut me out. We still have the telepathy link for a reason. Talk to me, please.*

~I’m not shutting you out.~ Sighing, Harry sat up. Why did it have to be a weekend? He needed something to do to clear his mind, and going to class was as good as anything else.

*You could hang out with many people.*

~Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Luna are doing something with the Weasleys today. They’ve already left. I can’t go because I look like you. Neville is visiting his Gran today since it’s their scheduled time to visit his parents.~ Although it would be funny to go to the Burrow as Draco, that thought lightened Harry's mood just a bit. He could have some fun messing with people in a harmless way.

*You are such a Slytherin. I guess it fits that you’re in my body with thoughts like that. I approve.* Shaking his head, Harry smiled. Without even trying, Draco was lifting Harry’s spirits. *Of course, I am. I’m amazing. Now, what can we do to shake off the bad feelings? We could mess with Sev… Oh, wait, you don’t think you’re ready.*

~You feel the same way, Draco. The mind link might not be open both ways right now, but I think I've gotten to know you well enough by now.~

*It would be weird if you didn’t. You’re right. I’m troubled. I know he feels guilty, but I feel just as guilty.*

~We’ve talked about how it wasn’t your fault, or even Snape’s. Dumbledore…~ Harry stopped talking and sat up straighter, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. ~It wasn’t Snape’s fault,~ Harry repeated.

*Just Dumbledore and good old Voldyshorts.*

~Voldyshorts?~

*Snakenose?*

~He didn’t have a nose, Draco.~

They went back and forth, creating even more insulting names for Voldemort, both starting to feel the weight slowly lift from their shoulders. By the time they finished making fun of the dead dark lord, Harry was relaxed as if he had taken a peace draught.

~Thanks, Draco.~

*You’re welcome. Now, make sure you remember how valuable I am to you, Harry.*

~I won’t forget. You mean a lot to me.~

*No need to get sappy, Potter.*

~Aww, are you flustered, Draco?~

*Never!*

🤯🤯🤯

*I have your room all to myself today. Do you think Ron and Neville would mind if I snooped?*

Harry laughed. It was hard not to react out loud whenever Draco said something out of the blue like that. Luckily, he was alone in the Slytherin common room, sitting on the couch near the fireplace. ~Don’t. You’ll be scarred for life if you find Ron’s mushy poetry about Hermione.~ He could sense Draco shivering. Harry was so used to sensing Draco’s feelings that he hardly batted an eye anymore.

*Never mind. Damn, I’m bored! Harry, do you still want to do something today? Come hang out with me. Save me before I give in to temptation. I’d even read sappy poetry.*

~No, you wouldn’t. But, I suppose we can do something.~ Harry wondered what they could do. The school was already used to them being friends, so that wasn’t an issue. It wasn’t a Hogsmeade weekend, either. They could potentially get permission to go off grounds, considering they were of age by both Wizarding and Muggle standards.

*Plus, we can guilt-trip McGonagall into saying yes, because we’re poor kids who survived a war… Sorry, that was in bad taste.*

Rolling his eyes, Harry removed his feet from beneath him, about to stand up. He was mid-movement when Snape entered the common room. Harry froze as their eyes met. If he ran, it would be obvious he had been avoiding Snape. ~Mayday…~ What was Snape doing here? Harry had to remind himself that the professor had every right to be in the Slytherin common room, but now Harry was like a deer caught in headlights.

*What is a Mayday? Or headlights? Is Severus there?*

~I see the mind link is still open on my end. Wonderful.~

*Yes, I can hear everything, and when you talk, I can usually hear that as well. From this whole linking situation, I’ve found out that people think their words a split second before speaking them. You do, at least.*

Great. That is just perfect.

*Unless they are brain-dead.*

Draco was a comedian, it seemed.

~Not helpful. He’s walking over here. I can’t run now. It’s not me he wants, Draco. It’s…~

*I’ll be able to hear most of what he says anyway. You’re going to be overthinking everything that comes out of his mouth, Harry.*

~Then you have to be willing to tell me what to say, Draco. I know this is a hard conversation for you.~ He could sense pain coming from Draco and wished they were in the same room. Harry would like nothing more than to comfort him. The connection between them had changed everything.

*I might take you up on the offer, Harry. Alright, I’ll try to do this. So, stop talking to me and pay attention to Severus. Remember, he is Severus to me.*

“Draco,” Snape said.

Harry swallowed, looking up at Snape. He settled back down on the couch, surprised to see that Snape wasn’t as guarded as usual, though he put it down to the fact that he thought he was talking to his Godson. “Severus,” Harry said, inwardly wincing at how shaky his voice sounded. He watched curiously as Snape seemed to be trying to compose himself. It was surreal to see this side of Snape.

“We haven’t had a chance to talk,” Snape said, sitting down next to Harry. “I should have contacted you sooner.”

Harry shrugged but didn’t say anything. It was like he had been hit with a silencing charm.

Snape held up a hand. “I understand if you’d rather not talk yet, or… ever.”

*That’s not true, Harry. That’s not true. Please, I know it’s hard, but tell him… please .*

“N-not true,” Harry whispered, looking down. “I’m confused.” That was true for both Harry and Draco.

“That makes sense.”

~Draco, what do you want me to tell him?~ Harry asked, feeling horrible because he could sense that Draco was crying.

*That I’m so sorry!*

Hugging his arms around his middle, Harry nibbled on his lower lip. His hands were starting to tremble. He glanced at Snape through his fringe and didn’t expect to see the softness there, nor the fear. “I’m so sorry, Severus,” Harry mumbled. Feeling Draco’s sorrow made Harry’s eyes well with tears.

Snape reached out for him but hesitated. “Don’t be. I would do everything again to save you and Potter.”

That was unexpected. Harry sucked in his breath. “Harry?”

“Yes. I see you’re on a first-name basis with him?” Snape asked. Harry expected a huge reaction from Snape, but he didn't seem bothered at all to learn his Godson had befriended "the boy who lived."

Nodding, Harry began to rub his arms, which were covered in goosebumps; he was shivering so much. “It sort of happened.”

“I’m glad it did, even if I was thoroughly shocked during Potions.”

That elicited a small smile from Harry. “You dropped your wand.”

“Indeed,” Snape said, and Harry suppressed another smile when he noticed Snape seemed embarrassed to admit that.

“Not the class you were expecting?” Harry asked.

“Hardly. Everyone was acting so strangely. I expected…” Snape shook his head. “Well, regardless of what I expected…” He stumbled over his words, and Harry tilted his head in curiosity.

~Does he talk openly with you usually, Draco?~

*For the most part.*

~He can’t seem to articulate himself. What should I say or do?~ Harry asked, observing Snape, who was clearly frustrated with himself as a pink hue rose in his cheeks. 

*I never thought I’d be in a position where I had to comfort Severus, considering… well, you know. But now, it’s you who might have to do it, and that’s even more abnormal. I don’t want to ask you to do anything that would seriously make you uncomfortable, Harry.*

~I get it, but I’m pretending to be you right now.~

“Draco?” Snape waved a hand in front of Harry’s face. “You’re zoning out.”

Harry jumped. “Oh, sorry! Um… Severus…” He held out his hand, feeling strange, placing it on the man he used to detest. He lightly patted Severus's hand, not sure if a hand pat would be comforting, but not sure what else he was willing to do, even if he was pretending to be Draco. “I’m glad you’re back,” Harry said softly. Those words more belonged to Draco. What Harry would have been willing to say was that he was glad Snape didn’t die.

*I’m glad for that, too! But don’t say it. I think it would just bring up horrid memories.*

Snape hung his head, looking every bit a broken man. Harry almost wanted to comfort him of his own accord and not as Draco. He could feel how badly Draco wanted to hug his godfather right now, so he scooted closer to Severus and leaned his head against his side instead.

A compromise.

~This can’t go on for very long. He has to know the truth, Draco. Though I wonder if he’ll be angry that I went through this whole conversation without telling him…~

*I know, but you’re not ready, so we'll wait.*

“Draco, don’t let anyone tell you how to live your life. Don’t fall into the pits that I did,” Snape said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know this might sound unexpected coming from me, but Potter and his friends are a good influence for you.”

Harry squeezed his eyes shut. Snape was making it hard for him not to forgive him outright. “If you think that… w-why haven’t you tried m-making up with Harry?” Harry asked, unsure if he really wanted to know.

“I don’t deserve that, Draco. I vowed to protect him, and I did, but at what cost?” Snape sounded devastated, and Harry glanced up at him, his head still resting on Snape's shoulder.

“He’s more forgiving than you think, Severus.” Why was he encouraging Snape to ask for forgiveness?

*Because you are a good person, Harry. You don’t want to hold grudges against people, and sorry to say this, you and Severus are a lot alike. You both grew up in less-than-ideal households…* Draco paused. He didn’t need to finish his thoughts; Harry understood where he was coming from.

~I know all that, except the childhood stuff. Well, I know his childhood at Hogwarts was hard because of the bullying my dad and his friends subjected him to, but…~

*It’s not my place to tell you details, Harry.* At that moment, the mind link opened up on Draco’s end. 'His father was just as bad as your uncle. No, he was worse…’

That was horrifying to learn, even if they were talking about Snape. Nobody deserved to be abused as a child, especially by their family.

*Shit.*

~Can’t be helped, Draco. You didn’t betray his confidence. He might understand that if the subject ever comes up.~

“I think if I attempted to confront Potter, he would end up hurt. Even trying my hardest to let go of my… issues, I don’t know…” Snape held his face in his hands. “I don’t know. I’m not a good person, Draco.”

“Um… he already doesn’t blame you for the prophecy thing,” Harry said, kicking his legs back and forth. It was true. He knew Voldemort groomed people from a young age, and Snape, having had nothing, found the offer of power tempting. Harry understood that. Then Snape was in too deep, and it was hard to break away from a cult. Because that’s what it was, wasn’t it?

Snape dropped his hands, looking at Harry in shock, his dark eyes wide, mouth slightly open.

“How would you know that?”

“Well, we talk about… stuff.” Harry shrugged, pulling his legs up onto the couch and wrapping his arms around his knees. He tried to keep still when Snape wrapped his arm around his shoulder.

“Personal stuff? You open up to each other that much, Draco?”

“Y-yes. Not just us; well, everyone is pretty much trauma dumping on each other. The eighth-year students are actually pretty close. Is that weird?”

“Not at all. It’s common for people who survive something traumatic to get close when they do it together,” Snape said. “You’re not just saying that about the-”

“I’m not just saying it to make you feel better, Severus,” Harry interrupted. “We’ve talked about a lot of things. About Harry’s childhood a-abuse, his dealings with Voldemort, and how he didn’t blame you for his mum and dad’s deaths because… well, because…”

*Are you alright, Harry?*

~I’m not sure.~

“Because you were just a kid, Severus. You were so young when you joined Voldemort and when the prophecy happened. That’s why.” Harry tried to control his breathing, but was having a hard time.

Snape looked startled, his eyes wide and unblinking as he stared at Harry. All the colour drained from his face, and he started clenching and unclenching his hands. “What do you mean by abuse?” Snape asked in a low voice.

That wasn’t what Harry expected Snape to ask. He always thought everyone knew how his aunt and uncle treated him, and he thought Dumbledore used his influence to get them to understand why it was for the greater good that Harry stayed in a harmful household.

“Y-you didn’t know?” Harry blurted out. Tears welled in his eyes and fell down his cheeks. He looked at Snape with wide eyes. “How could you not know, Snape? I thought everyone knew and didn’t care because of Dumbledore…”

Harry started to shake violently, the onset of a panic attack approaching. Dumbledore had kept it from everyone. Nobody knew. Harry thought it was… normal that he was left there. But maybe it wasn’t, because then the professors would have probably known, right? Nothing made sense. Why was he even talking to Snape? Why did his heart ache so much? Why did he want to forgive this man and start over? It didn’t make sense at all. No, it did not. Snape had bullied Harry for years.

Hurt people hurt people. Yes, Harry knew that. Snape never received the help he needed, and he had required healing for a very long time. Harry needed a family who would love him. He would have even welcomed a snarky man like Snape. As a baby, he wouldn’t have known the difference anyway. The truth was that no matter what Snape did to him, he never physically harmed him or stood by while a fat cousin roughed him up.

Snape stood up and looked down at Harry, then dropped to his knees in front of him. “How are you in Draco’s body?” Snape asked calmly, placing a hand on Harry’s knee. “I’m right, aren’t I? Potter?”

'Why isn’t he yelling at me for deceiving him? Why isn’t he forcing himself into my head?' Harry looked at Snape with panicked eyes as he rocked back and forth. 'Why isn’t he demanding answers from me? Why is he talking so unlike himself?'

*Harry! Harry! Damn it! Fuck. Fuck.*

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯

Draco ran down the corridors, clutching Harry’s invisibility cloak around him. He was sprinting so fast that he feared the cloak might fly off. He didn’t even have time to try a sticking charm or anything. Once he heard Harry breaking down, he bolted out of Gryffindor Tower faster than he ever thought possible. Right now, only jumbled phrases were making their way through the mind link, but Harry was no longer responding telepathically. He grasped some of Severus's words directed at Harry because Harry was repeating some of what Severus had said over and over in his head.

‘Are you alright, Potter? Hey, snap out of it. Am I alright? Am I?’

Shaking his head, Draco groaned. The pain from Harry’s thoughts made his temples throb. He bit down on his lower lip, enduring the discomfort because he knew Harry was feeling something much worse.

‘I’m confused. Why isn’t he yelling? Why isn’t he hitting?’

Draco skidded to a halt, his eyes wide. *Harry! Severus would never hit anyone,* he said, quickly backtracking. *Well, I mean, other than times when he harmlessly bopped kids on the head with rolled-up paper. I remember that even you and Ron found that funny.* He knew he was rambling, but from experience, he understood that Harry needed a distraction. However, this time it didn’t seem to be working. Harry was still whimpering, lost in memories of trauma, wondering why Severus wasn't treating him harshly like his aunt and uncle would have.

‘Don’t touch me! Don’t hurt me!’

*He’s not going to, Harry!*

Upon reaching the dungeons, Draco said the password. Harry always made sure he knew the new one. He took in the sight of Harry curled into a ball on the couch near the fireplace, while Severus looked like a fish out of water, attempting to calm Harry down in his own way.

“Potter, I didn’t know,” Severus said, placing a hand on Harry’s shoulder. Harry flinched and scooted further away from him.

The sound of Draco panting must have caught Severus's attention, as he spun around, clearly sensing they were not alone. “Who’s there?” Severus asked, drawing his wand.

“No!” Harry jumped up, clinging to Severus's arm. Of course, Harry knew Draco was in the room and believed Severus was about to attack him in Harry's state of panic. “Don’t hurt him!”

Throwing off the cloak, Draco revealed himself.

“Po… I mean, Draco?” Severus rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand and then glanced down at Harry, who was still gripping his wand arm. “I’m putting the wand away, Potter,” Severus said. “You have to let go so I can move my arm.”

“No!”

Sighing, Severus dropped his wand, not even flinching at the possibility that it could break. He kicked it toward Draco. “See? No more wand.”

“I would explain, but there are more important things to worry about at the moment,” Draco said. He bent down and picked up Severus’s wand, placing it on a table. Walking over to Harry, he lowered himself to his level. “Harry, let go of Severus. He’s not a threat. You know that deep down, don’t you?”

‘Deep down… Snape is… but adults hit. Adults hurt…’ Harry blinked up at Severus. ‘His eyes don’t look like Vernon's. Why do they look like that?’

“He’s worried about you, Harry. His eyes look like that because he cares about you.” Draco knew his godfather might have had a funny way of showing it over the years, but Draco knew there was a place in his heart where Severus truly cared about Harry. He regretted how he let his trauma affect him to the point that he bullied a child. Looking up at Severus, Draco glared at him. “Don’t you, Severus?” He put his hands on his hips, waiting and tapping his foot impatiently.

Harry looked between Severus and Draco. ‘He can’t care about me. Adults hate me. They hurt me.’

*Adults don’t hate you. You know Molly and Arthur love you. Even McGonagall probably loves you, Harry. At the very least, she likes you.*

‘How can he care? He hates me because I look like my dad and have my mum’s eyes!’

Draco groaned. “Man up, Severus! You wanted to be in my life again, so you have to tell Harry the truth first.”

Severus seemed dazed for a moment but snapped out of it and looked down at Harry, who looked like his godson. His hands trembled as he reached up to touch Harry’s cheek, his heart aching as Harry flinched away. It hit Severus then that Harry fully expected a blow from him, not just because of who he was, but because of how Harry had been raised. “I didn’t know,” Severus said, letting more pain seep into his voice than he ever had before. “Potter, I promise. I would have done something. I would have.”

‘He’s lying. What would he have done? Dumbledore made the rules. What could he have done? I was nobody to him. I was a baby. I was alone!’ Harry blinked but remained guarded, listening closely.

Draco held his head, feeling the weight of Harry’s devastating thoughts. Harry couldn’t voice them right now, so Draco would have to do it. “What would you have done, Severus?” Draco asked. “He was only a one-year-old baby when Dumbledore had Hagrid take him to the Muggles. Remus was supposed to be his rightful guardian. Well, Black would have been if he hadn’t been in Azkaban, but Remus was next in line to be…” Draco rambled. He knew all this from hearing Harry’s thoughts and seeing his nightmares.

“Potter, do you think Lupin abandoned you, too, as a baby?” Severus asked. “He would have fought for you, and so would I. I know that's hard to believe, but Dumbledore be damned. He… what he was doing to you over the years, making you… letting you…”

'But I had to do it... Dumbledore said...I had to. It was my responsibility...right? He said....'

*That isn't true, Harry. You were just a child!*

Severus swallowed hard. “Do you think it was just happenstance that you were able to do all those things? I’d give my right foot that he always knew and looked the other way.”

“No shit,” Draco muttered. “So, Black was out of the picture, and Remus was unreachable because Dumbledore kept Harry from him, so if you had known, what would you have done?”

With his shoulders slumped, Severus looked at Harry. “I would have found Lupin, and we’d have run away with you. You were just a baby, Potter.”

‘But why? He didn't...doesn't like me... I want to believe and forgive him. I’m scared... he’s lying...’

“Why were you so hard on Harry, Severus? He was eleven when he came here,” Draco asked quietly.

“I have no excuses. None. I let my pain and my own trauma cloud my judgment. I made assumptions…” Severus glanced at Harry when he finally released his arm and stood up beside him. “I don’t deserve forgiveness, but I am sorry.” 

'I want to believe. I do... does he mean it?' What if he hits me?' What if he gets so angry that he can't hold back...'

*Harry, he won't hit you.* Draco walked over to Harry and wrapped his arms around him, not caring what Severus thought. He could assume whatever he wanted. “It’s alright, Harry; come back from the past. You’re not there anymore. Severus has done a lot of things, but he isn't like your aunt and uncle,” Draco whispered as soothingly as he could. “The nasty Muggles can’t touch you anymore, I promise, alright? I’d kick their asses if they even attempted to get near you, you know that, right?”

Harry blinked. ~D-Draco… Draco?~

*Yes, that’s right. I’m here. I’ve got you,* Draco reassured him, walking Harry over to the couch and sitting down with him.

~I feel so out of it.~ Harry rubbed his eyes, his cheeks flushing. ~I’m so embarrassed.~

*You don’t have to be, Harry.*

“Severus, a lot has been going on since you’ve been gone, clearly,” Draco said. “Are you willing to listen?”

“Always,” Severus said, moving over to the couch and sitting on the other side of Draco.

“Harry and I woke up a few weeks ago and found out our bodies had swapped, but that wasn’t the most shocking thing…”

“What could be more shocking?” Severus asked, his eyes wide. “What kind of magic backfired?”

Draco humorlessly laughed. “No potion, no spell, no charm. It just happened. We don’t know how, and we have only told our friends so far.”

“Mind,” Harry mumbled, coming out of his disorientation.

“That’s right. The most shocking thing is that we can speak telepathically, and there are times when we have mind linking; reading each other’s thoughts, that is,” Draco said. He hugged Harry tighter against his side and gently patted him on the knee with his free hand. He sensed Harry calming down and hoped today wouldn't be a setback in Harry's progress, but better yet, the start of more healing for the three of them.

Severus’s eyes widened. “That explains a lot.”

“The things I was asking were what Harry was thinking. The mind link on his side is open, and I'm hearing most of what he’s thinking right now,” Draco continued.

“Sorry,” Harry said, sounding like he was about to pass out from the stress.

‘Deceived you. Sorry. Should have told you sooner. Sorry.’

“Why are you sorry?” Severus asked, confused.

“He’s sorry because he thinks we played a mean trick by not telling you earlier…” Draco glanced down. “When you were talking with Harry, he was playing the middleman, you know? Harry feels bad about that.”

“No, I understand,” Severus said. “This is a lot to take in for all of us. Potter… do you understand what I said before? I honestly did not know those Muggles were harming you. I can assure you that the other professors did not know, either.” Severus reached across Draco and hesitated before lightly touching Harry and Draco’s clasped hands. “I’m sorry I never showed you the care every child deserves.”

‘I don’t know what to say to him. I don’t know what to think. What does this mean for the future?’ Harry blinked down at Draco and Severus’s hands touching his.

*It doesn’t have to mean anything if you don’t want it to. He’s not going to force a relationship if you don’t want one, Harry.*

~R-relationship? What kind… I mean… he said he’d take me as a baby with Remus! What does that mean?~

*That is something the two of you will have to figure out if you want to,* Draco said, trying to sound as kind as possible. *There is no rush, Harry.*

“Alright,” Harry said to Severus, nodding his head. “Alright. I don’t know…” He bit down on his lip so hard that he drew blood, and it trickled down his chin. Before Severus could even blink, Draco had his wand out and healed the cut.

“Harry, don’t do that,” Draco said, squeezing his hand tighter.

“Sorry,” Harry mumbled.

“Potter, I know you’re confused, but I will be around if you ever want to talk,” Severus said.

“Truly?” Harry asked. “You won’t…?” He stopped and shook his head. “Um, alright.”

‘You won’t yell at me anymore or say mean things? You won’t leave if I decide to…’ Harry blinked rapidly. ‘What am I even thinking? It’s not like I want him to be my dad or something. That’s crazy even to consider. Remus should… well, if someone were going to be…’

Draco frowned and leaned his head on Harry’s shoulder.

Severus seemed to understand. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said, shaking his head. “Do you know how hard it was for Minerva to get me back here? The Ministry isn’t pleased with me. I’m on my best behaviour, Potter.” He winced slightly. “I know I should have been before, but…”

“Yeah, alright,” Harry said.

‘Is he lying? He’s probably lying, right?’ Harry wiped a tear from his cheek.

*I don’t think he is lying, Harry. I really don’t.*

~This is so strange.~

*I know...even though he was exonerated at the trial because of your evidence regarding his memories, I never thought I would see him again, let alone that he would return to Hogwarts.*

Draco looked at the three of their hands, still touching each other. He glanced back at Severus. “Don’t tell anyone about this connection between us, Severus. We…” He flushed slightly but gathered the courage to continue. “We’re fine with how it is for now, and nobody is being harmed.”

~You’ve gone soft on me, Draco.~

*I suppose a little.*

“I won’t speak of it, but I will investigate in my own time,” Severus said. “You can’t stay in each other’s bodies forever.”

Draco almost asked why not, but he held back. The mind link decided to share that thought with Harry, who looked at Draco with a small smile.

~Soft...~  

*Stop, shut up,* Draco said as he pulled his hand away from Harry and Severus.

“Harry’s tired. You can go, Severus. I’ll see him to his room.” He stood up and picked up Harry’s cloak.

Severus blinked, processing the cloak for the first time. “Where did you get an Invisibility Cloak?”

“Inheritance from dad,” Harry answered.

“Of course, James Potter had an Invisibility Cloak. That makes so much sense.” Severus shook his head, but a small, wry smile appeared on his face.

“That’s what I said!” Draco exclaimed. “Of course, Potter had one. It explained so much.”

Harry laughed, covering his mouth.

*You seem to be feeling better, I see?*  

~A little, thanks to you, Draco.~

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯

Hermione slammed down a gigantic dusty book of forbidden magic about soulmates, blood magic, and bonding rituals. The book also included references to unusual ways people found themselves unexpectedly bonded without the use of a spell or a potion.

“If you say that you checked this out for a light bit of reading in our first year, I am going to forbid you from going to the library from now on,” Harry said with a wry grin.

She rolled her eyes. “Harry, do you honestly think I would have held this back from you and Draco?” She looked between them, raising an eyebrow. “Of course, I haven’t been sitting on this book! What, you think I was waiting for the exact right time to show it to you?”

“It would be diabolical and so Slytherin of you,” Draco teased.

*The more I hang out with your group, the more I realise that we all have a little bit of each house in us,* Draco said. *It makes me think the houses were only created to-* He trailed off, blinking. *Well, we know why Salazar created Slytherin. Never mind.*

Harry snorted. ~Yeah, but I get your point.~

Hermione huffed, but she looked amused more than anything else. “Are you two…” She waved her hands around, making talking motions with them, not wanting to be overheard.

“Sorry,” Harry said. “Go on.”

“Well, I might have channelled a bit of Slytherin to find this,” She said. “It’s so easy to get access to the restricted section if you know the right trigger words to use with Madam Pince.”

“Ten points to Granger,” Draco said with a laugh.

“So, does it say anything useful?” Harry asked.

“Not so much in regards to soulmates and blood magic. We can rule out blood magic because neither of you did any weird bloody rituals together, correct?”

“I’m sure I’d remember if we had,” Draco said dryly.

*Unless it’s a delayed sort of thing after all the times we…*

~Don’t. Let’s not rehash the past, Draco.~

*I know, I know…*

“Right, so I skipped the blood magic portion, and I read all the ways so-called soulmates can be triggered. I am saying it like that because I don’t entirely believe in this magic. Seeing is believing and all that, even in a magical world. Plus, neither of you created a soulmate potion, did you?” She supposed that if soulmates did exist, they could be natural soulmates, but that wasn't based on logic.

“Nope,” Harry said. “Hermione, is this book useless?”

She scoffed. “A useless book? Every book has some use.” She laughed and then continued, “Even if just for kindling.”

“Hermione, we love the humour, but get to the point,” Draco said. He rubbed his eyes beneath Harry’s glasses. He was so tired. He wondered if needing glasses made a person fatigued faster. He could ask Hermione, but would probably get a three-hour lecture.

Sighing, Hermione opened the book, dust billowing out all around them, attacking their lungs. They started to cough, waving the dust around. Hermione pointed to a crude depiction of two people facing each other, with weird lines going from each of their bodies, connecting them. “This is just a reference section, pointing out types of phenomena that have been recorded throughout magical history regarding strange bondings between Witches and Wizards,” Hermione explained.

Harry leaned toward the text following the picture. 

Harry stopped reading, feeling his cheeks heat. He already knew that he and Draco had something going on deeper than neither had put words to, at least out loud. 

Hermione slapped the book shut and leaned forward, putting her elbows on the table and resting her chin. “So you see, I believe it is definitely old magic that has a hold on you. Therefore, we can’t predict how you end this,” She said in a lowered voice. “Will the swap be permanent? Will the mind link? Or will it go away once the two of you come to some sort of…” She grinned widely. “Well, that’s for the two of you to figure out.”

The mind link was currently closed, for which Harry was grateful. He did not want Draco to hear all his thoughts because his mind wouldn’t shut up. His heart wouldn’t stop racing, either. He glanced at Draco, their eyes meeting. Draco’s face was flushed, and Harry knew that he was probably thinking some similar things. Was this book and Hermione seriously suggesting they were bonded by old magic because old magic was trying to play matchmaker?

It was absurd to think about. Harry ran a hand over his face. He didn’t deny that his feelings for Draco were a lot different from what they had been in the past. They now shared a special bond, formed because they knew each other more than they ever expected to, thanks to the mind linking. But to think that this only happened because the old magic had grown tired of them not having the nerve to get closer more naturally.

“Um… alright,” Harry said. “That was interesting. Thanks, Hermione.” He smiled at her and then looked down at his hands. Now what?

“Yeah, thanks,” Draco said quietly.

She stood up and said goodbye, leaving them alone. Harry was surprised when Draco scooted his chair closer, and he could feel their thighs pressing together.

It was a small thing that they did when one of them needed grounding, and Harry couldn’t stop the slight smile on his lips. Even if they were both reeling from the information, Draco was still trying to be helpful. That was another reason that Harry was powerless, unable to stop himself from growing to like Draco more and more every day. He flirted with Draco openly at times, and Draco pretended to complain about it, though Draco’s thoughts betrayed him all the time.

Harry knew that Draco thought he was attractive, and he knew that Draco liked being bonded. Harry also liked the closeness. He liked that he was never alone anymore.

*I guess we should talk.*

Turning his face toward Draco, Harry almost fell off his chair, noticing how close Draco had gotten. Their noses were nearly touching. Harry was looking into his own eyes, but he could still see Draco behind them.

Trying to smirk but failing, Harry took a deep breath instead. ~What about? Is this a platonic or romantic bond, you mean?~

Draco flushed, pressing his forehead against Harry’s. *You know, I was raised sheltered, Harry. I was never really allowed to think about being with the person I would want to be with because of pureblood status and going into an arranged marriage.*

~I know. I see your dreams and memories, too, Draco. We both grew up…~ Harry blinked back a tear, sighing. ~...in less-than-ideal situations.~

*We can talk about everything later, Harry. I don’t want this to lead to…*

~I’m fine. I’m not feeling triggered into a panic attack.~ Harry pulled back from Draco and looked into his eyes. ~I feel safer around you, Draco.~

Draco shook his head with a small smile. *Now, that is not something I ever expected to hear from you, Harry, but I am glad you feel that way. I-I meant it when I said I was here for you back when we were meeting with Severus.*

‘I guess there was a reason we were so obsessed with each other. Magic is so strange, and I was born knowing I was a wizard. I can’t imagine how Harry feels,’ Harry heard Draco think. He hid a smile, but Draco understood right away that his thought got through because his face couldn’t possibly get pinker.

It was a nice colour on him. Harry laughed at the thought because he was looking at his own face, but the sentiment was the same.

“Why are you laughing?” Draco grumbled, crossing his arms, clearly embarrassed.

“You didn’t hear me?”

“No, the mind link seems to want to pick on me today,” Draco said with a pout. How the hell did Draco look so cute pouting like that when it was Harry’s face looking back?

Harry could only guess it was because Draco was piloting the expressions, and Harry was finding him adorable in general. He wished they were in their own bodies again, but he wouldn’t mind keeping the telepathy, even if they also kept the mind link. “I was laughing because how weird it is that I am finding your reactions so cute when it is my face you’re using, Draco,” Harry said.

*Must you…*

~Yes, I must, Draco.~

Draco put his head down on the table. *Alright, that is weird, but…ugh… never mind.* ‘You’re cute, too, even with my face.’

Harry grinned, grabbing Draco off the table and pulling him into a hug. “Why, thank you, Draco.”

“Ugh! The Wrackspurt Luna talks about must be real, after all. They are all in my head, making everything confusing and fuzzy.” Draco pretended to faint in Harry’s arms.

~You are not helping your case by acting like that.~

*I have no clue what you mean.*

~Acting cute.~

*This is not cute. It is called having a dramatic flair, Harry.*

Smiling, Harry ran a hand through Draco’s hair, not even thinking about it being his own hair. All he could see and hear was Draco.

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯

Harry was dreaming, which meant he was in his own body. As he walked around, he felt a sense of confusion. This wasn’t one of his usual nightmares that worried his friends because those had the chance to make him stop functioning for a while. This dream had a semblance of peace about it. The surroundings were just empty and dark, but not frightening or oppressive. ‘Where am I? Who am I? What am I?’ Harry thought as he continued to walk. The black, nondescript ground gradually gave way to a soft sage green. The green soon transformed into sharp, fluttery grass that waved in a breeze he couldn’t feel. Red, yellow, and purple flowers began to dot the landscape.

The sight around him was beautiful. ‘I’m myself, right? I’m not Draco. This is my body and my mind.’ Harry plopped down in a bed of flowers, laughing as multicoloured butterflies fluttered out around him. He also noticed some iridescent dragonflies flitting by.

In the distance, he saw two people wearing golden crowns. They waved at him and then hugged each other before vanishing. Harry blinked in confusion, but somehow knew they were the characters from the story Hermione had read to him and Draco. This wasn’t a typical dream; Harry knew it was magical. Did the Queen and King from Hermione’s huge book really visit him?

A bubble of laughter escaped him. That was genuinely amazing. Magic was so cool. Was this lucid dreaming? Harry squeezed his eyes shut and thought, ‘cow.’

“Oh my gosh,” he exclaimed, opening his eyes when he heard mooing. A fuzzy highland cow stood next to him, its shaggy brown fur brushing against his cheek. The cow nuzzled him for a moment before running off and slowly starting to fade away.

Sighing, Harry looked up into the blackness, wishing it were a blue sky with fluffy clouds to complement the green grass and flowers of the field. A delighted grin spread across his face when the blackness shifted to exactly what he wanted. “I want all my dreams to be like this,” Harry said, sighing again. “I wish… Draco were here, but not a version I dreamed up.” He waved his hand as if dismissing the thought. “You hear that, lucid dream magic? Don’t let him show up unless it’s really him.”

Harry pouted, crossing his arms. Since he was in this dream and Draco couldn’t read his mind, or at least, he didn’t think he could; otherwise, Draco would have said something by now, Harry began to admit to himself that he had feelings for Draco. They both knew something was happening between them for obvious reasons, but neither had spoken about it aloud.

“I suppose… well, I…” Harry pushed his hands beneath his glasses. “I wouldn’t mind being able to speak telepathically forever, and reading minds, even if it is embarrassing. But…” Tears glistened in the corners of his eyes. “I want us to have our bodies back. I want to be…”

‘What do you want, our child?’

Harry gasped, scrambling to his feet, his heart racing. “Who... is this a dream? Who are you?” 

‘All magic has a voice, though not many people listen. Some talk to magic, like your friend, the glowing one.’ 

“Do you mean Luna?” 

‘Of course, our child. She speaks to the magic in buildings, animals, and even people. Right now, you are like her. We are allowing you to hear us.’ 

“That explains so much about Luna, but it doesn’t clarify who you are or why I’m here. Is this a dream or not? Am I…” A horrid thought occurred to him. “I’m not dead, right?” 

‘Oh, our dear child. You are more alive than ever. You’re thriving. We don’t have a name; we simply are. This is a dream, a magical one, as you assumed. Do you like the one with whom you share a soul?’

Harry felt a rush of heat come to his cheeks. So, what had happened between them was a type of bonding magic. “I like him,” Harry admitted.

‘We see. Are you ready to acknowledge it? You cannot undo the change until both of you see eye to eye, and we believe you have reached that point.’

It was terrifying, but Harry was ready. He would face the consequences afterwards. He couldn’t make Draco feel the same way, but he had to tell him. If Draco didn’t reciprocate his feelings, how would they reverse the change? Could they still see eye to eye if their feelings weren’t mutual?

‘Be happy, our child. Embrace the love being offered to you, not only by your shared soul but also by those who seek forgiveness. You know who truly means it and deserves it. We know you understand.’

“Snape… you mean… S-Severus?” Harry asked, swallowing hard.

‘We do. We are departing now, bringing your shared soul to you. Goodbye, our love.’

“Goodbye,” Harry whispered, feeling a sharp pain clutch at his heart. It felt as though he was losing his parents for the second time.

‘Fear not, child. We are always with you, as are your lost loved ones. Now, shut your eyes. Farewell, for now.’

Harry smiled as he shut his eyes. They flew open again when he felt a hesitant tap on his shoulder. He blinked rapidly and looked up at Draco, who was gazing down at him with a bewildered expression.

“Harry?” Draco dropped to the ground next to him. “We have our own bodies. Is this one of your dreams?” He glanced around and smiled. “This is pretty.” His eyes followed a yellow butterfly as it zipped past his face, and he gasped when two dragonflies appeared, both landing on their noses.

“Draco, tell me, you know something about the symbolism of dragonflies,” Harry whispered, afraid to move. Dragonflies were beautiful and, because of their name, reminded him of Draco.

“Well, yes. I’m a pureblood wizard, Harry. I know all about the magical meanings of things like this…” Draco paused, and Harry noticed his cheeks were flushed.

“This is a dream,” Harry confirmed his earlier question. “So what does this mean?” He went cross-eyed from staring at the dragonfly, unable to hold back his laughter at how wonderful this was.

“You’re going to make me sound like Hermione,” Draco murmured. The dragonfly crawled along his nose and eventually settled in his hair. He glanced over at Harry, noticing that his own dragonfly had done the same.

“Go for it; this is so strange.”

“It’s a good omen to have a dragonfly land on you,” Draco said. “It’s believed to signify many things. Um… new beginnings, transformation, um…”

Harry wasn’t used to hearing Draco fumble over his words so much, but he waited patiently.

“It is a sign to embrace change, l-let go of negativity, spiritual growth, and self-discovery,” Draco said, feeling winded as if he’d talked for thirty minutes without taking a breath. “I really did sound like I was reading from a textbook.”

Flushing, Harry shifted closer to Draco and touched his knee. “I think we’ve been going through all those things lately, don’t you?”

“Y-yes,” Draco said, looking down at Harry’s hand on his knee. “Very much so, especially with the transformation part.” He smiled and then looked back up at Harry. “It’s nice to look at you and really see you, Harry. Not just glimpse your soul behind your eyes… well, my eyes, but to actually see you.” Draco blushed and then surged forward, pulling Harry into a tight embrace.

The dragonflies flew from their heads and moved toward each other, merging into one before vanishing completely.

“Do you think we’ll have our bodies back when we wake up?” Harry asked, holding Draco close and burying his face against his neck.

“I hope so. I want to experience this again.”

Harry pulled back slightly so that their eyes could meet; his green met Draco’s grey. “What do you mean exactly?”

“Looking into your eyes and seeing the vibrant green of Harry Potter.”

“Does this mean I can get away with calling you cute now?” Harry asked, a broad smile spreading across his face as he watched Draco flush. Draco nodded slowly, then quickly ducked his head against Harry’s chest.

“Good, because I like you, Draco,” Harry added. It was still scary to say that, but it hadn't been as hard as he thought it would be. Draco was already giving him all the signs that his response would be favourable.

“Well, I’m wonderful,” Draco teased, but then his expression grew serious as he sighed deeply. “Harry, I can’t begin to explain how any of this happened, but I like you too.”

“Are there stipulations on that?” Harry asked. “What if I wake up and I’m inside Ron’s body!”

“Now, that’s going too far,” Draco said with a laugh. He poked Harry in the side. “Oh, come on, yes, even if you looked like him. It’s not just your face that I like, obviously.”

Harry smirked. “All I’m hearing is that you like my face.”

"It's not that bad," Draco said, waving his hand dismissively. "I mean, as far as faces go, it will do."

"I can't read your mind right now, but I know what you really think, Draco!" Harry pressed their foreheads together. "You already know what I think. We might as well be open and honest about it, see eye to eye, you know?"

"Harry, we've seen out of each other's eyes; I think that goes far beyond just seeing eye to eye." Draco picked up Harry's hand and squeezed it gently. "Whether or not we have our bodies back when we wake up, I don't want to pretend this dream didn't happen."

Now Harry was scared that they would forget the dream when they woke up.

"We won't forget," Draco said softly, bringing Harry's hand to his lips and kissing his palm. Harry flushed, his heart racing.

"How did you know I was thinking that?" Harry asked, his voice trembling.

"Because I know you better than anyone has ever known you," Draco said. "How could I not after all this? You know me better than I probably know myself as well."

Laughing, Harry jumped on top of Draco, knocking him backwards onto the grass. "Then you must know what I want before we wake up."

Reaching up, Draco cupped Harry's cheeks, drawing his head closer. "I do." He kissed him, lightly brushing their lips together, slowly, hesitantly. It wasn't his first kiss by any means, but it held more meaning than anything ever had.

Chapter Text

🤯🤯🤯  

Severus walked into the room where Harry was currently living in Draco’s body. He looked around at the beds and saw that Theodore, Blaise, and Harry were still sound asleep. Sighing, he rubbed a hand over his eyes before making his way to Harry’s bed. He pushed the privacy curtain further aside, revealing more of Harry. It was still surreal for him to see his Godson, knowing he was actually looking at Harry.

“Mmm,” Harry mumbled in his sleep, tossing and turning. A small smile appeared on his face, filling Severus with overwhelming relief. He knew Harry had to be experiencing as many nightmares, if not more, than he himself had.

"I do," Harry said softly, his smile growing. Severus felt he should wake Harry before his dream turned into something he had no right to witness. He had once been eighteen and recognised the look on Harry’s face all too well, even though Severus loved to pretend he didn’t know what it was like to have feelings for someone.

Casting a silencing charm around them to avoid disturbing Theodore and Blaise, Severus gently nudged Harry’s shoulder, sitting beside him. "Harry, I’m sorry for waking you. I know you’re probably still having a hard time dealing with me, but-" He glanced away from Harry as Draco’s grey eyes began to flutter open.

“Mm, Severus, why are you sitting on my bed?” 

“I wondered if you and Draco might be ready to start experimenting with methods to get you back into your own bodies,” Severus said, still avoiding eye contact. He didn’t want to make this any harder for Harry than it had to be. He wished they could easily forget, forgive, and move on, but that was impossible for everyone involved.

~Draco! Draco, focus, look around! We're in our own bodies again! Can you still hear me? I hope you can! I can’t hear your thoughts at all, not even a whisper.~

“Um…too late,” Draco said, smiling tiredly at Severus. “We already figured it out.” Draco stretched his arms above his head and looked down at his body. He sucked in his breath when he noticed the Dark Mark on his forearm. Taking a deep breath, he tried to ignore it. He looked back at Severus, who had a bewildered expression on his face. “We’re in our own bodies again, Sev. I’m Draco.”

*Harry, I can still hear you when you speak directly to me, but I can’t hear your thoughts at all. I guess that’s a good thing, right?*

~Oh! Draco, I’m… I was afraid… I mean… I like being able to talk to you like this. It’s like texting…~

*What in the world is texting?*

~It’s a new craze… um, Muggle phones can...never mind. That’s not important. What’s going on right now? I can’t hear your thoughts, but when you speak to me, I can detect some emotion in your voice, as if we were talking face to face!~

*Severus is here. He obviously thought I was you. Um… just a moment, alright? I should focus on talking to him. Harry, I remember the dream.*

~Alright. I remember the dream too.~

“Draco? You’re Draco?” Severus asked, waving a hand in front of Draco’s face. His eyes were unfocused. He touched Draco’s shoulder and gently shook him. “Hey, are you with me?” He grew more concerned the longer Draco ignored him. “Draco!”

“Huh? Oh, I’m sorry,” Draco said. “Yes, it’s me. Um, hi. So, we’re back in our bodies. It seems we can’t read each other’s thoughts anymore, but we can still communicate telepathically.” He looked away as his face grew warm. They both remembered the dream, in which they had kissed and confessed to liking each other. Did that mean they were in a relationship now?

“I’m pleased you’ve switched back, but how?” Severus asked, shaking his head. “I guess you didn’t need my help after all.”

Covering his face, Draco flushed deeper. “It sounds mushy and cliché to say it aloud.”

“Draco, I’m in no position to judge anyone. Go on.” Severus glanced at the other beds, checking if Theodore and Blaise were still sleeping. They were, so he turned his attention back to Draco.

Flustered, Draco explained the story from the book Hermione had shown them, and then he told Severus about the dream, leaving out the confession and kiss. “I think it sounds like soulmate magic,” Draco mumbled. “That’s barmy, isn’t it?” He turned away from Severus and buried his face in his pillow.

“It does sound like old magic was using the two of you like puppets,” Severus said thoughtfully. “It’s not barmy. The proof is right in front of me. So you and Harry… is it official?”

“You mean are we together?” Draco asked, his voice muffled. “I guess so, but we haven’t put it into words yet.”

“Life is short and precious. We had to learn that the hard way, Draco. Go to him and put it into words.” Severus leaned over and patted Draco on the shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. You already know how he feels about you.”

Draco laughed. “I’d say! We could read each other’s minds, so I know how he feels more than anyone else would, about me and everything else.” He sat up and faced Severus, startling them both when he suddenly surged forward, hugging him. “I missed you, Sev. Don’t go anywhere. Stay in our lives.”

“I missed you too. Always, Draco. I will always be in your lives,” Severus said softly, hugging Draco back, his cheeks wet.

🤯🤯🤯  

*Harry, I’m at the Fat Lady. Let me into the Gryffindor Tower! She doesn’t believe me when I told her we were friends. I can’t imagine why she would doubt my word.*  

Laughing, Harry stood up. ~I’m baffled. How could she not believe you? I’ll be there in a minute.~ Harry walked over to Ron and hugged him. “Guess who!”  

Ron spluttered, choking on the goblet of juice he had been drinking, spitting it all over them. “Is… Harry! Are you back in your body?” He pushed Harry away from him and vanished the mess he had just made all over both of them. “How? When?”  

“Found out when I woke up thirty minutes ago. I’ve been processing everything leading up to waking up…” Harry flushed and explained the dream, about the voice that spoke to him, and that he saw Draco in his dream. He admitted to the confession and kiss, glancing away from Ron.   

“So you’re together now?”  

“I don’t know. We haven’t said if we are,” Harry answered.  

Ron rolled his eyes. “You are. Go figure it out. I’ll let the others know you’re back.”  

Walking out of the room, Harry slowly made his way to the common room, opening the Fat Lady’s portrait. He grinned when he saw Draco casually leaning against the wall. “Wow, seeing you… and actually seeing you… I…” He flushed when he realised his eyes were wet. He walked further out of the common room, not caring that the Fat Lady was looking at them, her eyes bulging out of her head as Harry grabbed Draco in a firm embrace.  

*Miss me?* Draco teased, holding Harry tightly. His heart started to pound.  

~Daft question,~ Harry said, pushing his hands into Draco’s hair. He smiled as he watched red spread across Draco’s cheeks and the tips of his ears. ~Are you going to start acting shy?~  

*How dare you say that! I’m not shy at all.*  

“Are you two planning on making out in front of me? Is that what kids call that these days? Could you kindly do it away from me?” the Fat Lady asked. “Shoo, shoo!”  

Laughing, Harry pulled Draco into the Gryffindor Tower, laughing even harder when some students saw Draco, their eyes widening. “Get over it,” Harry said. “You guys are already aware that we hang out with Draco. Now you can get used to seeing me kiss him. Go start rumours; we don’t care.”  

*We don’t?*  

~No.~  

Draco grinned. “That’s right. I know I haven’t gained the trust of everyone, but I hope in time, you can see me for who I want to be. Someone who does better and makes up for my past mistakes. And someone who…” He looked down at his feet.  

Harry cupped Draco’s shoulder. “Let’s not go into right or wrong,” he said to the gawking students. “You all know about Draco’s upbringing. It was blasted all over the news. If you have any brains, you will…”  

“Stop,” Draco said softly. “You don’t have to… I mean, some people will understand, and some won’t. We can’t force people to change how they feel.” He looked back up and grabbed Harry’s hand, dragging him toward his dorm room.  

🤯🤯🤯  

Neville ran over and hugged Draco, startling him. “You’re in your own body again! Welcome back.” He grinned and then hugged Harry. “I’m so happy that it worked out.” He didn’t give them time to respond as he turned away and ran out of the dorm room.  

They looked at Ron, raising their eyebrows in confusion.  

“Why was he in such a hurry?” Harry asked.  

“Was he always that affectionate?” Draco added.  

“Yes to Draco’s question,” Ron said. “He’s meeting with Theodore in the library,” Ron smirked. “Those two have gotten close, if you catch my meaning.”  

“No surprise there,” Draco said. “Good for them.” He laughed when Ron and Harry’s eyes widened. “Oh, come on, couldn’t you tell he had eyes for Neville?”  

“Harry was too busy having eyes for you to notice anyone else’s romantic interests,” Ron said teasingly, making Harry and Draco flush.  

Dean and Seamus walked into the dorm, skidding to a halt when they saw Draco. “What’s this about then?” Dean asked.  

“I feel like we’ve been left out of the loop about something,” Seamus said, crossing his arms. “We’re hurt. Just positively hurt.”  

“Oh, hush,” Ron said. “You figured it out from day one; don’t pretend you didn’t.”  

Dean smirked. “It was quite dumb how many people had no clue, but why didn’t you tell me and Seamus?”  

Harry shrugged. “It wasn’t anything personal.”  

“No big deal,” Seamus said. “We get it.” He shook his head. “Kind of nutty to think about. So who exactly am I talking to now?” he asked, looking at Harry. Quietly, Harry and Draco explained everything to Dean and Seamus.  

🤯🤯🤯  

*Harry, you said that you remembered the dream, so you remember that we confessed to each other?* Draco asked, leaning against Harry’s side. He held onto his hand, nibbling on his bottom lip. They were alone in Harry’s room now, sitting on his bed.  

~How could I forget that?~ Harry whispered, his thought voice soft in Draco’s mind. ~I like you, Draco. I like you more than I ever thought possible. It’s strange how things happen, isn’t it?~  

Draco turned to face Harry. “So strange,” he agreed, pressing their foreheads together. “I like you, Harry.” He laughed, pulling back. “It feels so liberating to say it out loud instead of in a dream or telepathically.”

“Let me try,” Harry said, gripping Draco’s hands. “Draco, I like you.” Harry blushed, nervously licking his lips. “I like you. I like you.”

“I get it!” Draco nudged Harry’s shoulder. “You don’t have to overdo it.”

“Yes, let me!” Harry leaned over and kissed Draco’s cheek. “Will you go out with me?”

“Go out with you where?” Draco asked.

Harry laughed. “You’re such a pureblood! Draco, will you… Um, are we together? Are we courting or whatever you want to call it?” His cheeks burned as he stared intently into Draco’s eyes.

“Salazar, Harry, of course we’re together! Do you think I would let you get away from me after everything we went through?” Draco nudged his side and then playfully pushed him onto the bed, hovering over him. “Harry Potter, from now on, we’re in this together. Whatever life throws at us in the future. Do you understand me?”

Eyes wide, Harry nodded, his thoughts racing. ~Kiss me and seal the deal.~

*You don’t have to ask me twice.* Leaning down, Draco pressed his lips against Harry’s, tangling his fingers in his hair.

It took a long time, but finally, they could see eye to eye and even beyond that. They knew each other inside and out, far better than they would ever know anyone else. They might not have been ready to call it love yet, as that was such a fragile feeling, but love was also there, nestled snugly within their hearts.

END