Chapter Text
Draco sat at the dining table in his home. All around him, portraits of relatives looked down, scowling. Draco had a bad feeling that they knew what he was about to do. Soon, his mother sat down, closely followed by his father. Lucius had not eaten with them most of the time Draco had been there, but tonight seemed to be different. He pulled out the chair at the head of the table and sat, signaling the arrival of their dinner, which appeared on large silver plates in the middle of the table. Lucius served himself first, and only when he was done could Draco and Narcissa get their food. They ate in silence for a moment before Draco cleared his throat. Lucius looked up impatiently.
“Mother,” Draco glanced at Narcissa, who was eyeing him suspiciously, “-Father, I have something to tell you.”
Lucius simply glared, showing no signs of interest, but it was better than objection. Draco took a deep breath. “I have a boyfriend,” he said, using every ounce of confidence he could muster. A flash of—what was that? Annoyance? —flitted across his father’s face.
“I see,” Lucius said, his lips drawn into a thin line. Narcissa remained expressionless, simply watching the interaction carefully.
“Well, Draco, I must admit I had hoped you would outgrow this sort of-” he glanced at Narcissa, “-attraction…but I suppose there is nothing I can do now,” he said reluctantly, clearly holding back many more opinions on Draco’s sexuality.
Draco knew the hardest part was yet to come, but from his father, this was acceptance. He wanted desperately to leave it there; to know his father accepted that he was gay, but he had promised Harry. He couldn’t bear to hide the boy he loved from his family.
“Who is it, Draco?” Narcissa asked quietly. Lucius seemed intrigued as well.
“A nice Slytherin lad, yeah? Quidditch player…pureblood…right, Draco?” Lucius seemed so sure that it nearly broke Draco’s heart to deny it.
“He does play Quidditch, Father,” Draco said sheepishly. Lucius was far too cunning to miss Draco’s avoidance of the other factors. Narcissa’s eyes focused on Draco, encouraging him.
“Father… I love him. That’s all you need to know, really. He takes care of me.”
Lucius’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Who- is- it, Draco?” Lucius bit the words out one at a time. Draco hung his head. There was no point in trying to convince his father of Harry’s worth. This fight was over before it started.
“Harry Potter.”
Silence stretched across the table.
Draco opened his eyes to find his father staring at him.
“What about him?” Lucius asked. Narcissa sucked in a frightened breath, glancing at Draco with concern.
“He’s my boyfriend, Father. Harry Potter is my boyfriend.” Draco looked up, his eyes wide and glossy.
Lucius stood up from the table. He stared at Draco, his eyes void of emotion or reason.
“Is this family-” he gestured to Malfoy Manor, and all the portraits surrounding them, “-a joke to you, Draco?”
Draco whimpered, which infuriated his father even more.
“I thought you were a Malfoy. I have put up with this nonsense of liking boys-”
“Now, Lucius-” Narcissa tried, but he dismissed her with a wave of his hand. Draco shrank under his gaze.
“I have sent you back to Hogwarts every year, as you begged of me. I have protected you from the Dark Lord; telling him you were ill, and could not handle the burden of The Mark. Perhaps you are ill, Draco, because no son of mine would associate himself with someone like Potter.” Draco stilled as he waited for an eruption. He waited for the insults and the assumptions, but Lucius was silent. He looked up at Draco, his eyes cold and unforgiving. Draco was scared; it wasn't like his father to hold back.
“You are not welcome here, Draco."
The words sliced him like a knife.
Lucius banged his cane on the ground and stormed into his study, slamming the wooden doors behind him.
Draco crumpled on the floor. He stared after his father, waiting for him to turn around; waiting for him to take it back. The study doors did not reopen. Never, never, had his father kicked him out. They had fought, sure, but never about something so real.
Narcissa helped Draco to his room.
“There you go, dear, there you go.” She gave him a cup of water and propped his head up like she had done when he was a child. Draco’s mind was moving too fast for his emotions to catch up. His mother put her hand on the side of his face and whispered, “It’s alright, Draco. He’ll come around, just wait in here. I’ll talk to him.” Draco heard the soft click of his lock as she closed the door.
Draco heard a noise outside his window, and opened it. A snowy owl flew into his room. Harry’s owl, Draco realized. She clicked her beak and stuck out her foot, to which a small letter was tied.
Draco, I hope all is well with your family. I know this hasn’t been easy for you. I truly hope I am only being paranoid, but I’ve had a bad feeling lately. If something happens, and you need to leave, send Hedwig back with the red ribbon that held this letter, tied around her leg. This probably sounds ridiculous, but I can’t shake the feeling I got when you left.
I love you, Harry
Draco began to sob as his heart swelled with gratitude for his boyfriend. Harry had known, despite Draco telling him everything was alright, that he might need help. His father could say what he wanted. The only person who truly mattered was Harry.
It was this fact that drove him out of bed the next morning, determined to speak to his father and make things right. As he walked toward the dining room, Draco heard voices. He peeked around the corner and saw two men speaking to his father. He recognized one of them as Goyle’s father. The other clutched his wand, his knuckles white.
They were both wearing black.
Too much black.
Draco muffled a gasp when the man’s sleeve exposed a dark mark on his forearm. These men were Death Eaters, Draco realized. His heart rate increased rapidly. The pounding of it in his ears was so loud that he was sure they could hear it. Draco ran back up the stairs to his bedroom. He didn't know why the Death Eaters were here, but he did not care to find out. Frantically stuffing things into his trunk, he ignored Hedwig, who was perched on the windowsill. She hooted loudly, startling him. He grabbed the red ribbon off of his desk and tied it tightly around her leg. She flew off into the distance, leaving Draco alone.
He heard a creak down the hall, and jumped into bed. He closed his eyes right as Narcissa opened the door and peeked her head inside. She sighed and closed the door softly before hurrying downstairs.
Draco grabbed a textbook and began reading it, desperately trying to occupy his thoughts.
Several hours later, he heard a loud “Crack!” and sat upright, terrified that he was being attacked. Before Draco, hair messy and his expression glowing, was Harry Potter. Draco leapt out of bed and wrapped him in the biggest hug he possibly could. He buried his nose in Harry’s shoulder, absorbing the familiar smell. Harry laughed softly as he tried to wriggle from Draco’s grip.
“Hey,” he said, looking deep into Draco’s eyes. Draco glanced around the room and noticed one of the older Weasley twins standing awkwardly in the corner.
“How did you get here?” Draco asked Harry.
“I apparated with George. He just passed the test,” Harry added, noticing Draco’s alarm.
“But the Manor has spells and protection, how did you get past it?”
“Dobby helped a bit. He knew how to get around it since…you know, he lived here.” Harry looked down, slightly uncomfortable. He knew Draco felt terrible about how Dobby was treated.
“Anyways,” Harry said, glancing at Draco’s packed trunk, “-what happened? Are you in danger?”
Draco felt tears stinging his eyes as he relived the previous night.
“I told my father about you. He went ballistic, saying how I wasn’t a Malfoy, and I wasn’t welcome here,” Draco took a deep breath, “Then, this morning, he brought two Death Eaters into the house. He’s never done that before. Not if I’m home.”
Harry looked so concerned that it nearly broke Draco’s heart.
“A-and, he had finally seemed to accept that I was gay, but I was so determined to tell him about you that I ruined it all.” Tears spilled down Draco’s face, choking his words. Harry pulled him in and began to speak quietly.
“This is my fault, Draco. I shouldn’t have pressured you. ”
Draco sobbed into his shoulder.
“No, darling. I just couldn't stand to hide it any longer. I just-I can’t believe he would do that. My own father…”
Harry looked at him helplessly.
“He-” Draco sucked in a breath, “He really hates you, Harry. He doesn't care that I love you, or that you love me. He just hates you.”
“I don't care what Lucius Malfoy thinks about me, honestly. At this point, it'd be crazy if he didn't hate me. It’ll get better. It won’t always be this hard, Draco. I promise.”
Harry pressed their heads together and squeezed his hands around Draco’s shirt.
“Let’s go, darling. Let’s get to the Burrow, where we’re safe, then we can figure everything else out.” Harry gestured to George Weasley, who was standing awkwardly in the corner of Draco’s bedroom, inspecting his Quidditch posters. Harry pulled Draco’s hand and grabbed George’s.
“Nice posters, Malfoy. Too bad your team didn't stand a fighting chance, though.”
Draco scoffed as he grabbed hold of his trunk and they were whisked away, being stretched apart as they traveled through space. Draco squeezed his eyes shut, opening them only when a flash of light burned through his eyelids. He felt solid ground under his feet and noticed Harry standing next to him, rather out of breath. They were in a kitchen with dishes washing themselves, quidditch gear scattered around, and a strange magical clock on the wall. George was whispering to Ron Weasley, who stood a few feet away, looking dazed.
“Ron, listen–” Harry began.
“Mate, I don’t know what you’re thinking, bringing him here,” he glared at Draco, “But you’d better hide him before Mum or Dad come down. You know how it is between our families.” Ron left the room, whispering to himself. Harry turned back to Draco.
“Come on, I’ll take you to Hermione’s room. She shares it with Ginny, but they’re running errands right now.”
Draco was dragged up a winding staircase that creaked every time he took a step. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Harry opened a door and pulled him through.
*
Draco slept for most of the day. Harry hadn't quite figured out a way to tell the Weasleys about him, so he stayed hidden and enjoyed some much needed rest. Around dinnertime, Draco was reading when Harry opened the door quietly. When he spied Draco awake, he smiled. After sitting down next to him, Harry pulled Draco in for a kiss.
He had really needed it, and Harry must've known. They hadn't kissed since before Christmas break.
When Harry pulled away, he handed Draco a sandwich and a glass of hot cider.
“Here's dinner, hon. I'll be back soon, and there's a chance we could play chess later, if Mrs. Weasley is busy.” He smiled and closed the door, leaving Draco feeling extremely grateful.
Draco had become bored in the hour Harry had been gone, so he was relieved when the door finally swung open.
Instead of his boyfriend though, Hermione Granger walked in. She saw Draco sitting on the bed and gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
“Oh! I-I thought Ron was joking, but you're-” she approached Draco, “-You’re really here, aren't you?” Her voice was surprised, but not scared.
“Er…yes?” Draco answered, getting off the bed hurriedly. “Are you… did Harry tell you…?”
Hermione’s eyes widened.
“Oh! Oh yes, Harry told us a few days ago! Of course, I had my suspicions, but that's beside the point…” Draco stood by the door awkwardly, “Anyways, I'll just go and fetch him…” she looked back, “Does Mrs. Weasley know that you're here?”
Draco shook his head guiltily. Hermione sighed and left the room.
Harry peeked in not long after Hermione left.
“Draco?” he whispered. Draco looked up from his book hopefully. Harry threw him a chess piece.
“Fancy a game? We're all in another room, I figured you might like to join.”
Draco nodded his head vigorously, causing Harry to chuckle.
“Come on, then!” Harry grabbed his hand as Draco closed his book carefully. He pulled him out of the room and down the long hallway, leading him into a room full of laughter.
Ginny Weasley sat next to Hermione. She gasped at Draco's arrival, but didn't utter a word and instead exchanged knowing looks with Hermione.
Ron frowned when he came in, and opened his mouth to say something before one of the twins leapt up.
“Malfoy! A pleasure, we've heard so much about you!”
Harry glanced at Draco nervously. The other twin stood up too, joining in.
“Oh, yeah! We've heard all about your evil plots and your dark magic…”
Hermione jumped up to scold them.
“Honestly! Draco, don't listen to them, Harry hasn't said anything about you of the sort. They like to joke, that's all.”
Draco let out a breath as Harry glanced at him apologetically. Ron cleared his throat.
“Malfoy, I've been told you're rather gifted at Wizard's chess. I-” he puffed out his chest dramatically, “-am undefeated.”
Draco smirked.
“We can change that, Weasley.”
A twinkle appeared in Ron's eye.
“You're on, then.”
After Draco and Ron had each won a game—Ron had demanded a rematch after the first one—the others grew tired of their strategic banter and suggested ending it while neither was ahead.
Ginny sat down across from Draco, crossing her legs dramatically.
“So…Malfoy, how long have you and Harry been together?”
Harry looked slightly uncomfortable, but Draco answered easily.
“A few months. We started…erm…interacting long before that though.”
Ron coughed. Ginny grinned.
“Oh, I know. I saw all your little conversations after Quidditch matches.”
Harry took a swig of water.
“Pretty sure I saw your first kiss, too.”
Harry spit out his water as his cheeks turned scarlet. Draco remained silent, terrified that he could only make this embarrassing conversation worse.
“Ginny!” Harry exclaimed after regaining composure. “You-you can't just…” he shook his head in disbelief, “Did you really see that?” he asked, grimacing,
Ginny nodded thoughtfully.
“Pretty sure… it was after the Gryffindor versus Slytherin match, yeah? And Harry went to put up his broom, Malfoy followed him, Harry yelled a bit—seemed quite angry, actually— then Malfoy grabbed him and-”
“That's enough!” Harry yelled as everyone else laughed hysterically.
Ginny did not seem at all sorry. She turned to Draco, smiling mischievously.
“Y'know, Harry's been obsessed with you for years. He'd complain about you day and night, it was exhausting!”
Harry buried his face in his hands as Draco laughed politely. Ron lit up, clearly eager to add.
“He'd have dreams about you, too! Amazing he convinced himself it was hatred and rivalry all that time…”
Draco smiled fondly as Harry moaned in embarrassment. Ginny turned back to Draco.
“Malfoy—I hate to ask, but I must—are you…?” She glanced at Harry and back at Draco. He did not know what she was asking.
“Am I…what?” he asked. She smiled.
“Are you gay?”
Draco laughed.
“Yes, I'm gay! I thought everyone knew that…?”
It was Ron's turn to be appalled.
“No, everyone did NOT know that! Didn't you date Pansy for multiple years?!” he asked, louder than necessary. Draco chuckled, remembering him and Pansy’s memories fondly.
“No, Merlin no. We're just friends, I don't know how that rumor started.”
Draco turned to the side and saw Harry staring at him fondly. He laughed, and Harry startled out of whatever he was thinking.
The banter continued for hours, and Draco felt enormously comfortable the entire time. Some of the questions were a bit awkward, and Harry’s friends had definitely revealed more than he would've liked, but Draco had truly enjoyed himself. It wasn't until late that night, when they were lying in bed, that Harry brought up what had been troubling him.
“When you told everyone earlier...it was brave. Actually brave. I know you thought they knew, but you still had no problem just…saying it.” Harry whispered.
Draco cocked his head in confusion.
“Saying...what? That I'm gay?”
Harry nodded as Draco let out a breathy laugh and grabbed Harry's hand.
“Harry, it wasn't brave. I've known for much longer than anyone else has, and I'm comfortable with it.” There was a pause and Harry glanced at their interlocked hands. Draco had a sudden realization. “Is this really about me?”
Harry swallowed.
“You're just…so sure of yourself all the time. You always know exactly who you are. You never seem…insecure.”
Draco smiled sadly and squeezed Harry's hand.
“Harry, you don't have to be sure of your sexuality to be self-confident. I was taught to be strong, to never show emotion or weakness. For better or for worse, that control has been wired into me. But you—you’re genuine, you express your emotions, you ask for help. You're far better at it than I am.
“If labeling yourself is important to you, then take it at your own pace. But you do not owe anyone —especially me— a definite answer.”
Harry leaned on Draco.
“I just…I want to be confident like you. I want to know who I am—I just can't figure it out.”
“Harry, you know Ginny and Luna? Ginny’s gay, but Luna…Luna just says ‘queer’. She doesn't know where her attraction fits into labels, so she chose to use one that describes anything she wants it to.”
Draco turned to Harry, hoping his words were sinking in. Harry nodded thoughtfully.
“You're good at speeches. I bet you'll be an amazing Minister for Magic one day, I just know it.”
Draco smiled at the sudden praise, unable to hide his relief that Harry was considering what he had said. He assumed the conversation was over and began to sit up, when Harry grabbed around his waist and pushed him onto the bed.
“I love you,” Harry whispered as he planted a soft kiss on Draco's lips. “I love you, and that's all that matters.”
*
Draco woke the next morning as Harry slipped out of bed.
“Morning,” Harry smiled, noticing that his boyfriend was awake. Draco got out of bed sleepily.
“Do you want to come downstairs? We can get some breakfast.” Harry proposed. Noticing Draco's worry, he added “Don't worry, Mrs. Weasley is already out running errands. We'll be fine.”
They crept downstairs, careful not to wake anyone who was still sleeping. There was no one in the kitchen, much to Harry's surprise.
As he began reaching into cabinets and pulling out dishes and food, Draco's heart fluttered fondly.
Harry grunted as he tried to reach a plate on the top shelf, and Draco laughed softly.
He reached up behind Harry, easily able to grab the plate. Draco normally resented his taller-than-average height, but it proved helpful every once in a while.
“I could have grabbed that, you know.” Harry pouted.
Draco smirked.
“I just thought I'd help out.”
Harry swatted him playfully.
“You're the worst.”
“And yet you love me anyway,” Draco responded smoothly. Harry smiled.
“And yet I love you anyway.” he repeated.
Harry pulled Draco in, planting a soft kiss on his lips. Draco smiled despite himself and leaned in, squeezing Harry's hand as he kissed back.
Draco put his hands on Harry's chest and pushed him away gently. Harry smiled but glanced around nervously, checking that no one was around. Draco made a small strangled noise in his throat as he noticed a figure standing behind Harry.
Harry turned around quickly.
Fred Weasley stood near them, leaning against the countertop and drinking his coffee casually.
“Morning,” he said, smirking.
Draco felt his cheeks get hot, but Harry just chuckled awkwardly before leading him back up to the room.
*