A Love So Belated
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
46,686
Reviews:
358
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
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Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
46,686
Reviews:
358
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 35: Skeeter's Revenge
Chapter Number/Total: 35/44
Chapter Title: Skeeter's Revenge
Words: 4044 Words
Harry awoke the next morning twisted up in the blankets with Draco. He lifted his head, blinking the sleep out of his eyes before smiling down at the slumbering man curled against him.
Draco burrowed against Harry's body when he moved, murmuring in his sleep.
"Draco," Harry whispered very quietly, still smiling at him and not actually trying to wake him up.
Draco's hands slid around Harry's waist, holding him tighter.
Harry let out a little sigh of contented pleasure, letting Draco hold him. He touched his face with just the very tips of his fingers. "Beautiful," he whispered in that same barely-there voice.
The blond's fingers began to slide over Harry's skin and he kissed the side of his face. He was still more asleep than awake but, not unlike most other mornings, he was aroused as well.
"Draco," Harry whispered again, a little louder. He pressed against him and could feel him getting harder.
"Yes, baby," Draco answered sleepily, fingers sliding down Harry's body to see if he was aroused, too.
Harry smirked a little, a small shiver going through him as Draco touched his cock.
Draco's fingers wrapped around his lover's shaft, beginning to move the foreskin. "Turn on your side," he whispered.
Harry raised an eyebrow, laying a quick kiss to Draco's lips before flipping himself around.
Draco sighed happily, pressing himself against Harry's back. He rubbed his cock along the crevice of his lover's arse as he continued to stroke Harry.
Harry closed his eyes, wriggling his arse back into Draco as he moved himself in Draco's hand. "Morning," he whispered, smiling crookedly.
"Yes, morning," Draco whispered, burying his face against the hair at the back of Harry's neck. "Lube?" he asked.
Harry held his hand out and Summoned the jar, opening it for Draco before handing it to him. He was still smiling and still a little tired, and, Merlin, this was the perfect way to wake up.
Draco released Harry's cock and dipped his fingers in the oil, reaching to slick his own cock and then Harry's opening. "Oh, fuck, Harry," he said, pressing into his lover's body.
Harry groaned quietly. He was a bit sensitive from the previous night, but it made it feel even better. He reached behind and grasped Draco's leg, moving against him.
Draco moaned, hand sliding forward to stroke Harry's cock again as he rocked into his body.
Harry gasped, fingers pressing into Draco's thigh. "So good, baby," he breathed.
"Fuck yes, you love my cock inside you," Draco gasped, thrusting harder as he squeezed his lover's cock.
Harry tossed his head back. "Yes," he moaned lowly. "So fucking good stretched around you."
Draco moaned and thrust deep, coming inside his lover and biting down on the back of his neck.
"Fuck!" Harry shouted, arching his back and thrusting outward. He came too, letting out another low moan.
Draco was panting against the back of Harry's neck, body trembling. "Fucking good morning," he answered.
Harry shakily released Draco's thigh, where he'd been clutching at the skin. "Always is," he breathed.
Draco chuckled, inhaling the scent of his lover and the musk of sex. "Yes," he answered. "Suppose we should get out of bed," he added after a minute.
Harry yawned, reaching his arms out in front of him to stretch. "I suppose," he said, but didn't actually move.
Draco rolled onto his back with a sigh. "Or we could stay here and fuck all day," he said with a grin.
Harry grinned too, ignoring the come on his skin as he rolled to face Draco. "And then stay in bed all day again tomorrow because we can't walk."
"There has got to be a potion for that," Draco said, sighing.
"I imagine there's something," Harry mused. "Though I've never seen a potion for having a cock up your arse."
"I should adapt one of the potions for bruises," the blond answered.
Harry smiled. "And bite marks," he added, reaching a hand to the back of his neck.
"I love my marks on you," Draco said, waggling eyebrows.
"I rather like them too, actually," Harry concurred, amused again. "It's when there are five rather big ones visible on my neck that the problem arises."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Not if we are going to stay in bed and shag all day."
"Oh, did we agree on that?" Harry asked, waggling his eyebrows now.
"Unless you have a better plan ...."
"If there is a better plan in the world," said Harry, pressing closer again, "please, don't hesitate to let it be known."
"Maybe we should eat before we continue?" Draco asked, reaching for his wand.
"You can eat me," said Harry suggestively, but he chuckled, sitting up.
Draco cast Cleaning Charms for both of them. "Do you think Kreacher would bring us food here?"
Harry had been about to stand up and pull on his pyjama bottoms as usual, but he paused, simply sitting against the headboard. "Yeah," he said. "Why? You want to eat up here?"
"Sure," Draco said lazily, still lying there.
Harry felt weird calling Kreacher while he was naked, so he pulled the blankets up securely before doing so.
The elf appeared, stooped as always. "Good morning, Master," he said, bowing as low as he could manage. He was used to Draco and Harry in bed together by now, no matter how strange he thought it was. He paid it no attention.
Harry sighed. It didn't seem to matter how much he told Kreacher the bowing wasn't necessary. "Morning," he said. "Have you already started breakfast?"
"Yes, Kreacher has," Kreacher replied.
"Can you bring it to us up here?"
"Yes, Kreacher can," Kreacher answered. "Master mates in dining room and eats in bedroom. Master is very strange," he mumbled.
Harry shook his head, watching him go.
Draco chuckled, shaking his head as well. "Strange indeed."
"Your idea." Harry shrugged, laughing a bit as well.
Kreacher came back a few minutes later with a tray of their usual breakfast foods, handing it over. "Kreacher is giving you the paper, too," he said, pointing to where the Prophet lay beneath a plate.
"Thanks, Kreacher," Harry said, pouring himself some orange juice.
He disappeared again.
Draco sat up, reaching for his cup of tea.
Harry brought his juice to his lips, draining half in one gulp before reaching to spread marmalade over his toast. "We didn't get to talk a lot about last night," he said after a moment. "You know, since we came home and fucked. How was it?"
Draco frowned. "Not as bad as I thought it would be," he said guardedly, and then reached for the paper.
Harry nodded. "That's what I thought too," he agreed. "Neville, um, well ... Neville knows," he said, glancing sideways at Draco.
Draco glanced at Harry, not yet opening the paper. "You told him?"
"Well, he guessed ... I just told him he was right," Harry answered.
Draco sighed, nodding, and then opened the paper.
It wasn't the main story, but on the front page, in bold lettering, were the words, 'Wizarding World's Hero Hiding Relationship With A Man?'.
"Merde!" Draco cursed, eyes narrowing as he began to read.
Harry Potter, beloved public figure, and indeed, vanquisher of the Dark Lord, may be involved in a secret same-sex relationship. According to reliable sources, Potter was spotted last evening outside the popular pub, The Three Broomsticks, fornicating with none other than Draco Malfoy. Malfoy, who is the son of convicted Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, is on probation himself, having been linked to the death of the much respected Albus Dumbledore, and many other crimes of the past years.
Potter and Malfoy were seen inside the pub with several others, but disappeared into the shadows once the evening had finished and proceeded to display what has been described as 'certainly improper for public behaviour.' The full description of the act is too vulgar for details.
The question is: Why would Harry Potter do such a thing? Certainly the man has been known to involve himself with the most unsuitable of partners, but a man? A criminal?
It is possible that alcohol was involved, as Potter had been drinking. It is also possible that Potter is suffering from loneliness, having just split from his steady girlfriend, Ginny Weasley. The cause of the split is unknown as of now, but may be Malfoy himself. Potter had been spotted with Malfoy in public several times before the incident of the previous night, and was still linked with Miss Weasley at the time.
Has Harry Potter 'switched teams' as the saying goes? Is he confused? Perhaps his judgement is skewed in light of what he has been through in recent months. Whatever the case may be, it is obvious that Malfoy is not a wise choice for the Boy Who Lived. Where could this lead? Only time will tell.
The article was written by Rita Skeeter.
Draco's hands began to shake as he read the article. He got to the end and dropped it on the tray, hands covering his face.
Harry had frowned when Draco yelled, and the expression held all through the time the blond had been reading. His frown deepened as he reached for the paper himself. It didn't take him long to find the right article. His eyes grew wide.
Draco was panting, close to hyperventilating as he pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes.
Harry lowered the Prophet, eyes still wide. Taking a look at Draco, he dropped the paper and pulled the man to him.
Draco was shaking badly, still panting.
"Shhh, it's all right," Harry tried to soothe, shaken himself. He tried to work it out in his head, what exactly had just been done to them.
"My father," Draco whispered.
Harry closed his eyes and let out a long breath. He held back the words that came to mind, not wanting to make it worse, but he didn't know what to say to sound reassuring.
"He'll see it, he'll know," Draco whispered, face pressed against Harry's chest.
"I-it can't be all that bad," Harry whispered back, wincing as soon as the words were out.
"Did you read the fucking article?" Draco snapped, still shaking.
"I love you," Harry whispered, not knowing what else to do.
Draco imagined his mother reading about them having sex in public, his father finding out about his and Harry's relationship through sneered comments among other inmates. His shaking only grew more intense.
Harry was more concerned about Draco, but it didn't stop the brief flashes of thought in his own mind. The Weasleys would all know why he had broken up with Ginny. All of his friends were going to find out about Draco in probably the worst way possible. He tried to push that all aside, though, and held Draco tightly.
Draco tried to breathe, to get control of himself, but it didn't seem to be working. He felt his stomach lurch and he was panting. He pushed away from Harry and tumbled out of the bed to the floor.
Alarmed, Harry moved the breakfast tray out of the way quickly and crawled after Draco, getting to the floor beside him. "Shhh," he tried hushing, rubbing his back in circles, but his eyes were wide.
Draco seemed not to notice Harry as he stood shakily to his feet and staggered out of the room and into the bathroom.
Harry didn't know if that meant that Draco wanted to be left alone, so he didn't know if he should follow him, but then he got to his feet and looked out into the hallway to see where Draco was going. When he went to the bathroom, Harry did follow and stood in the doorway, still unsure if Draco wanted him there.
Draco turned on the cold tap and began splashing water on his face. "Merde!" he repeated.
Harry frowned confusedly. He had no idea what that meant. "Draco?" he said quietly, watching him.
Draco startled, realising that Harry had followed him. He glanced at him but held onto the sink. He still felt sick to his stomach and not sure what to do about it.
"What .... Are you okay?" Harry asked, still frowning. "Is there .... Do you want anything, or ...?"
"I have to go see my mother," Draco said, face pale. He groaned. "And contact my father, and, oh fuck, what about your friends?"
Harry winced. "I can deal with them."
Draco sat down on the toilet seat, face in his hands again. "How can you be so fucking calm about this?"
"I don't think anyone's reactions would be too different if they found out this way or if I told them," Harry said quietly. "I guess it's just happening sooner than I thought it would."
Draco shook his head, staring at the floor. "It will matter to my parents."
Harry crossed the room to him. He didn't know if Draco particularly wanted to be touched or hugged, so he only stood near him. "It probably doesn't help much," he began slowly, "but I'm here, and I'll do anything you want."
Draco looked up then, eyes widened in surprise when he realised he had expected anger from Harry. "You really don't mind? People knowing?" he asked, blushing.
Harry gave a small shrug. "I would've rather people found out in a different way, but did you really think I was going to hide that I'm with you forever?" he asked. "You do mind people knowing?"
"Not that I'm with you," Draco admitted. "But the part in the alley ...." He blushed.
Harry winced yet again, blushing a bit himself. "Yeah, that - that's bad." And then he did feel a flash of anger over it being written about in the bloody news paper. "Someone must have seen us."
Draco blushed brighter, reaching for Harry and wrapping his arms around his waist. "I've never done anything like that, in public. I always seem to have trouble thinking clearly around you."
Harry sighed quietly, all the thoughts inside him making him feel very compressed and strangely quiet. He was sick of people caring what the hell he did with his own fucking life. He wrapped his arms around Draco's shoulders. "I pulled you against me," he reminded.
Draco rubbed his face against his lover's belly, sighing at the feel of him, the hair tickling his nose. He kissed his lover's skin. "If it hadn't been freezing out, I might have fucked you then and there," he admitted.
Harry raised an eyebrow, smiling a bit despite the situation. "I probably would have let you."
Draco smiled too, looking up at Harry. "I just never seem to get enough of you," he said, hands sliding over Harry's back and arse. "No one ever made me lose my control the way you did before and still do."
Harry passed his fingers through Draco's hair. "How long did you fancy me?" he asked softly. Draco always said that it had been so long, that he'd loved Harry for such a long time.
Draco closed his eyes, rubbing his face against Harry's flesh again. "A while," he said reluctantly.
"A while?" Harry pressed, stroking Draco's hair again.
Draco seriously thought about distracting Harry from this conversation. His fingers were already kneading the man's arse and his face wasn't far above his cock. He licked the skin of Harry's belly, testing to see if he would let it go.
"Might've worked if you hadn't just fucked me," Harry said with a small sigh. "You don't have to tell me, I guess."
Draco snorted. "You think you know what I am thinking now?" he teased.
"Well, you didn't answer my question," Harry countered. "And you never elaborate on what this 'long time' is that you've loved me."
"Let's go back to the bedroom and I'll try to answer," Draco said with a sigh, releasing his lover.
Harry raised an eyebrow, stepping back. "Okay, but you really don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Draco smiled, part grimace. "I know, thanks," he said, getting to his feet and kissing Harry's forehead.
Harry walked with Draco back into their bedroom and sat on the bed, staring at him.
Draco poured himself more tea, sipping it as he sat facing his lover. "It really is complicated," he admitted. "I don't exactly know how to describe it."
"Fancying me?" Harry asked, raising both eyebrows now.
"Fancying sounds so simple, and how I feel about you has never been simple," Draco said, blushing again.
Harry cocked his head a bit to the side. "What do you mean?"
"I ... I think I wanted you long before I realised what it was I was feeling," Draco admitted, looking into his tea cup.
"Back in Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
Draco nodded, not looking up. "I think I convinced myself I hated you, so I wouldn't have to face it."
"Convinced me of it," Harry said quietly.
Draco snorted. "Do you remember when we met?" he asked softly, nearly a whisper.
"In Madam Malkin's?" Harry said, remembering Draco mentioning the robe shop before.
Draco nodded.
"Yeah," Harry said, nodding as well.
"I didn't know your name then," Draco went on. "But I was so eager to talk to you. I remember falling all over myself then."
Harry remembered thinking Draco was like Dudley, but didn't say so. "Why?" he asked instead, trying to think of what had been so significant about that meeting.
"I was embarrassed later, when I found out who you were. That I had made a fool of myself trying to ... make friends," the blond continued, still watching his tea instead of Harry.
Harry stared at him. "But then on the train ..." he said, trailing off.
"Weasley pissed me off," Draco said sullenly. Then he took a deep breath. "I just didn't understand you. I didn't understand how you could pick him over me."
Harry sighed. "I didn't pick him over you," he said. "Not really. He was just ... nicer, I guess." He shrugged. "His mum helped me on the platform and ... Fred and George helped me with my trunk. And then he knew about as much as I did about Hogwarts, and explained stuff to me that I didn't know about. It felt like you would've laughed because I didn't know things. And Crabbe and Goyle weren't the nicest looking blokes."
"Yeah, it always did feel like a competition between the Weasleys and myself. And you never do seem to see that," Draco said, sighing. "Did you ever read Aesop's Fables?"
Harry frowned at the Weasley comment and shook his head at the question. "What are they?" he asked.
"You would know a lot of them I think just from expressions. 'The Fox and The Grapes' is the one I am thinking of. It's where the expression 'sour grapes,' is drawn from," Draco said, wincing a bit. "In the story there is a hungry fox that comes across the delicious looking bunch of grapes hanging on a vine above his head. He really wants them and he jumps and jumps trying to reach them but can't. So you know what happens next?" The blond looked up then.
"What?" Harry asked, still looking at him.
Draco held Harry's eyes now. "He declares that the grapes are sour after all and that he doesn't want them."
Harry frowned a bit. "What are you comparing that to?"
"It means that sometimes the way people handle not having what they really want is to convince themselves they never wanted it, that they hated it, in fact," Draco explained, still watching his lover's face.
Harry sighed quietly. "So you hated me," he concluded. "It's not something that surprises me. I wasn't too fond of you either."
Draco shook his head. "No, I hated that you didn't like me. So I tried to convince myself that I hated you. It nearly worked, too. But I was obsessed with you."
"Obsessed with me?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"You had to have noticed that I paid a lot of attention to what you were doing," Draco drawled.
"Well, you were always there," Harry recalled. "Annoyingly so. Trying to get us in trouble."
"Paid more attention to you than to Pansy, and don't think she didn't get annoyed by that," Draco admitted.
"Even while you were dating her?" Harry asked.
Draco blushed, looking down again, but nodded. "And then there was sixth year ...."
"What? You mean when you stomped on my face and broke my nose?" Harry asked, again raising an eyebrow.
Draco winced. "After that," he whispered. "I dumped Pansy."
"Why?" Harry asked.
Draco set the empty tea cup aside and examined his own hands for a moment. "Part of it was for her own safety. He had said He would kill anyone I cared about if I didn't do what He said," he whispered. "But then you started following me around, too."
"You broke up with her in part because I was following you around?" Harry's voice carried a slight tone of disbelief.
"That's not what I told myself at the time," Draco said. "I was convinced I couldn't let anyone know what I was doing, so I couldn't have her following me around and asking a lot of questions. But then there you were, doing exactly that. It was driving me crazy."
"I knew you were doing something," Harry said. "I was actually rather ... obsessed with that myself. That's what Ron and Hermione said all year."
Draco took several deep breaths, trying to steady himself. "It was an awful year and I felt like I was losing my mind," he admitted. "Then there was ... the incident ... in the bathroom."
Harry finally looked away from Draco, staring at his own legs for a very long moment. "I ... didn't know it would do that," he said quietly.
"I panicked. It was like everything that had happened all year was there and I was so angry," Draco said miserably. "I tried to hurt you. You were defending yourself."
Harry sighed. "I didn't mean for it to happen," he said. "I didn't even know what the spell did. It was the first one that came to mind."
Draco shook his head. "Only you would accidentally use dark magic and nearly kill me," he commented, sounding oddly amused. "I woke up in the hospital wing with Professor Snape hovering over me."
"It was Snape's spell," Harry replied. "Snape's book that I found it in." He shook his head. "Why does this feel like it was ten years ago?"
"It does feel far away," Draco admitted. "But I had a revelation when I woke up."
Harry finally looked up at Draco again. "What?"
"That I wasn't angry at you anymore," Draco said, looking up again at Harry face.
"Why?" Harry asked quietly.
Draco fingered the scar on his chest. "The entire rivalry just seemed ridiculous then. And I could better see how I had brought what had happened upon myself."
Harry didn't know what to say to that. He went quiet again. "And then you ... figured out you loved me?" he asked, cocking his head slightly again.
"Sounds mental, doesn't it?" Draco grimaced. "You nearly killed me and that convinced me that I have feelings for you."
"Sort of," Harry agreed with a bit of a strange laugh. "I don't - I guess - Why would you have feelings for me in the first place?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Does anyone ever really understand that?" he asked.
Harry shrugged. "I guess not. I suppose it just doesn't make sense. I mean, your dad didn't like me. He couldn’t have ever said anything good. I don't really fit into anything traditionally pure-blood, and I can't work out why anyone would have a crush on a skinny, specky bloke like me. Ginny included." He chuckled a little.
Draco grinned, reaching a hand to cup Harry's chin. "See? Proves I'm mental, I suppose," he whispered, and then leaned in to kiss Harry.
Harry smiled and kissed gently back. "I think I'm glad for that," he said quietly.
Draco looked into those green eyes and felt his heart beat faster. "So, did I answer the question?"
"Yeah," Harry whispered, leaning in to kiss again.
Chapter Title: Skeeter's Revenge
Words: 4044 Words
Harry awoke the next morning twisted up in the blankets with Draco. He lifted his head, blinking the sleep out of his eyes before smiling down at the slumbering man curled against him.
Draco burrowed against Harry's body when he moved, murmuring in his sleep.
"Draco," Harry whispered very quietly, still smiling at him and not actually trying to wake him up.
Draco's hands slid around Harry's waist, holding him tighter.
Harry let out a little sigh of contented pleasure, letting Draco hold him. He touched his face with just the very tips of his fingers. "Beautiful," he whispered in that same barely-there voice.
The blond's fingers began to slide over Harry's skin and he kissed the side of his face. He was still more asleep than awake but, not unlike most other mornings, he was aroused as well.
"Draco," Harry whispered again, a little louder. He pressed against him and could feel him getting harder.
"Yes, baby," Draco answered sleepily, fingers sliding down Harry's body to see if he was aroused, too.
Harry smirked a little, a small shiver going through him as Draco touched his cock.
Draco's fingers wrapped around his lover's shaft, beginning to move the foreskin. "Turn on your side," he whispered.
Harry raised an eyebrow, laying a quick kiss to Draco's lips before flipping himself around.
Draco sighed happily, pressing himself against Harry's back. He rubbed his cock along the crevice of his lover's arse as he continued to stroke Harry.
Harry closed his eyes, wriggling his arse back into Draco as he moved himself in Draco's hand. "Morning," he whispered, smiling crookedly.
"Yes, morning," Draco whispered, burying his face against the hair at the back of Harry's neck. "Lube?" he asked.
Harry held his hand out and Summoned the jar, opening it for Draco before handing it to him. He was still smiling and still a little tired, and, Merlin, this was the perfect way to wake up.
Draco released Harry's cock and dipped his fingers in the oil, reaching to slick his own cock and then Harry's opening. "Oh, fuck, Harry," he said, pressing into his lover's body.
Harry groaned quietly. He was a bit sensitive from the previous night, but it made it feel even better. He reached behind and grasped Draco's leg, moving against him.
Draco moaned, hand sliding forward to stroke Harry's cock again as he rocked into his body.
Harry gasped, fingers pressing into Draco's thigh. "So good, baby," he breathed.
"Fuck yes, you love my cock inside you," Draco gasped, thrusting harder as he squeezed his lover's cock.
Harry tossed his head back. "Yes," he moaned lowly. "So fucking good stretched around you."
Draco moaned and thrust deep, coming inside his lover and biting down on the back of his neck.
"Fuck!" Harry shouted, arching his back and thrusting outward. He came too, letting out another low moan.
Draco was panting against the back of Harry's neck, body trembling. "Fucking good morning," he answered.
Harry shakily released Draco's thigh, where he'd been clutching at the skin. "Always is," he breathed.
Draco chuckled, inhaling the scent of his lover and the musk of sex. "Yes," he answered. "Suppose we should get out of bed," he added after a minute.
Harry yawned, reaching his arms out in front of him to stretch. "I suppose," he said, but didn't actually move.
Draco rolled onto his back with a sigh. "Or we could stay here and fuck all day," he said with a grin.
Harry grinned too, ignoring the come on his skin as he rolled to face Draco. "And then stay in bed all day again tomorrow because we can't walk."
"There has got to be a potion for that," Draco said, sighing.
"I imagine there's something," Harry mused. "Though I've never seen a potion for having a cock up your arse."
"I should adapt one of the potions for bruises," the blond answered.
Harry smiled. "And bite marks," he added, reaching a hand to the back of his neck.
"I love my marks on you," Draco said, waggling eyebrows.
"I rather like them too, actually," Harry concurred, amused again. "It's when there are five rather big ones visible on my neck that the problem arises."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Not if we are going to stay in bed and shag all day."
"Oh, did we agree on that?" Harry asked, waggling his eyebrows now.
"Unless you have a better plan ...."
"If there is a better plan in the world," said Harry, pressing closer again, "please, don't hesitate to let it be known."
"Maybe we should eat before we continue?" Draco asked, reaching for his wand.
"You can eat me," said Harry suggestively, but he chuckled, sitting up.
Draco cast Cleaning Charms for both of them. "Do you think Kreacher would bring us food here?"
Harry had been about to stand up and pull on his pyjama bottoms as usual, but he paused, simply sitting against the headboard. "Yeah," he said. "Why? You want to eat up here?"
"Sure," Draco said lazily, still lying there.
Harry felt weird calling Kreacher while he was naked, so he pulled the blankets up securely before doing so.
The elf appeared, stooped as always. "Good morning, Master," he said, bowing as low as he could manage. He was used to Draco and Harry in bed together by now, no matter how strange he thought it was. He paid it no attention.
Harry sighed. It didn't seem to matter how much he told Kreacher the bowing wasn't necessary. "Morning," he said. "Have you already started breakfast?"
"Yes, Kreacher has," Kreacher replied.
"Can you bring it to us up here?"
"Yes, Kreacher can," Kreacher answered. "Master mates in dining room and eats in bedroom. Master is very strange," he mumbled.
Harry shook his head, watching him go.
Draco chuckled, shaking his head as well. "Strange indeed."
"Your idea." Harry shrugged, laughing a bit as well.
Kreacher came back a few minutes later with a tray of their usual breakfast foods, handing it over. "Kreacher is giving you the paper, too," he said, pointing to where the Prophet lay beneath a plate.
"Thanks, Kreacher," Harry said, pouring himself some orange juice.
He disappeared again.
Draco sat up, reaching for his cup of tea.
Harry brought his juice to his lips, draining half in one gulp before reaching to spread marmalade over his toast. "We didn't get to talk a lot about last night," he said after a moment. "You know, since we came home and fucked. How was it?"
Draco frowned. "Not as bad as I thought it would be," he said guardedly, and then reached for the paper.
Harry nodded. "That's what I thought too," he agreed. "Neville, um, well ... Neville knows," he said, glancing sideways at Draco.
Draco glanced at Harry, not yet opening the paper. "You told him?"
"Well, he guessed ... I just told him he was right," Harry answered.
Draco sighed, nodding, and then opened the paper.
It wasn't the main story, but on the front page, in bold lettering, were the words, 'Wizarding World's Hero Hiding Relationship With A Man?'.
"Merde!" Draco cursed, eyes narrowing as he began to read.
Harry Potter, beloved public figure, and indeed, vanquisher of the Dark Lord, may be involved in a secret same-sex relationship. According to reliable sources, Potter was spotted last evening outside the popular pub, The Three Broomsticks, fornicating with none other than Draco Malfoy. Malfoy, who is the son of convicted Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, is on probation himself, having been linked to the death of the much respected Albus Dumbledore, and many other crimes of the past years.
Potter and Malfoy were seen inside the pub with several others, but disappeared into the shadows once the evening had finished and proceeded to display what has been described as 'certainly improper for public behaviour.' The full description of the act is too vulgar for details.
The question is: Why would Harry Potter do such a thing? Certainly the man has been known to involve himself with the most unsuitable of partners, but a man? A criminal?
It is possible that alcohol was involved, as Potter had been drinking. It is also possible that Potter is suffering from loneliness, having just split from his steady girlfriend, Ginny Weasley. The cause of the split is unknown as of now, but may be Malfoy himself. Potter had been spotted with Malfoy in public several times before the incident of the previous night, and was still linked with Miss Weasley at the time.
Has Harry Potter 'switched teams' as the saying goes? Is he confused? Perhaps his judgement is skewed in light of what he has been through in recent months. Whatever the case may be, it is obvious that Malfoy is not a wise choice for the Boy Who Lived. Where could this lead? Only time will tell.
The article was written by Rita Skeeter.
Draco's hands began to shake as he read the article. He got to the end and dropped it on the tray, hands covering his face.
Harry had frowned when Draco yelled, and the expression held all through the time the blond had been reading. His frown deepened as he reached for the paper himself. It didn't take him long to find the right article. His eyes grew wide.
Draco was panting, close to hyperventilating as he pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes.
Harry lowered the Prophet, eyes still wide. Taking a look at Draco, he dropped the paper and pulled the man to him.
Draco was shaking badly, still panting.
"Shhh, it's all right," Harry tried to soothe, shaken himself. He tried to work it out in his head, what exactly had just been done to them.
"My father," Draco whispered.
Harry closed his eyes and let out a long breath. He held back the words that came to mind, not wanting to make it worse, but he didn't know what to say to sound reassuring.
"He'll see it, he'll know," Draco whispered, face pressed against Harry's chest.
"I-it can't be all that bad," Harry whispered back, wincing as soon as the words were out.
"Did you read the fucking article?" Draco snapped, still shaking.
"I love you," Harry whispered, not knowing what else to do.
Draco imagined his mother reading about them having sex in public, his father finding out about his and Harry's relationship through sneered comments among other inmates. His shaking only grew more intense.
Harry was more concerned about Draco, but it didn't stop the brief flashes of thought in his own mind. The Weasleys would all know why he had broken up with Ginny. All of his friends were going to find out about Draco in probably the worst way possible. He tried to push that all aside, though, and held Draco tightly.
Draco tried to breathe, to get control of himself, but it didn't seem to be working. He felt his stomach lurch and he was panting. He pushed away from Harry and tumbled out of the bed to the floor.
Alarmed, Harry moved the breakfast tray out of the way quickly and crawled after Draco, getting to the floor beside him. "Shhh," he tried hushing, rubbing his back in circles, but his eyes were wide.
Draco seemed not to notice Harry as he stood shakily to his feet and staggered out of the room and into the bathroom.
Harry didn't know if that meant that Draco wanted to be left alone, so he didn't know if he should follow him, but then he got to his feet and looked out into the hallway to see where Draco was going. When he went to the bathroom, Harry did follow and stood in the doorway, still unsure if Draco wanted him there.
Draco turned on the cold tap and began splashing water on his face. "Merde!" he repeated.
Harry frowned confusedly. He had no idea what that meant. "Draco?" he said quietly, watching him.
Draco startled, realising that Harry had followed him. He glanced at him but held onto the sink. He still felt sick to his stomach and not sure what to do about it.
"What .... Are you okay?" Harry asked, still frowning. "Is there .... Do you want anything, or ...?"
"I have to go see my mother," Draco said, face pale. He groaned. "And contact my father, and, oh fuck, what about your friends?"
Harry winced. "I can deal with them."
Draco sat down on the toilet seat, face in his hands again. "How can you be so fucking calm about this?"
"I don't think anyone's reactions would be too different if they found out this way or if I told them," Harry said quietly. "I guess it's just happening sooner than I thought it would."
Draco shook his head, staring at the floor. "It will matter to my parents."
Harry crossed the room to him. He didn't know if Draco particularly wanted to be touched or hugged, so he only stood near him. "It probably doesn't help much," he began slowly, "but I'm here, and I'll do anything you want."
Draco looked up then, eyes widened in surprise when he realised he had expected anger from Harry. "You really don't mind? People knowing?" he asked, blushing.
Harry gave a small shrug. "I would've rather people found out in a different way, but did you really think I was going to hide that I'm with you forever?" he asked. "You do mind people knowing?"
"Not that I'm with you," Draco admitted. "But the part in the alley ...." He blushed.
Harry winced yet again, blushing a bit himself. "Yeah, that - that's bad." And then he did feel a flash of anger over it being written about in the bloody news paper. "Someone must have seen us."
Draco blushed brighter, reaching for Harry and wrapping his arms around his waist. "I've never done anything like that, in public. I always seem to have trouble thinking clearly around you."
Harry sighed quietly, all the thoughts inside him making him feel very compressed and strangely quiet. He was sick of people caring what the hell he did with his own fucking life. He wrapped his arms around Draco's shoulders. "I pulled you against me," he reminded.
Draco rubbed his face against his lover's belly, sighing at the feel of him, the hair tickling his nose. He kissed his lover's skin. "If it hadn't been freezing out, I might have fucked you then and there," he admitted.
Harry raised an eyebrow, smiling a bit despite the situation. "I probably would have let you."
Draco smiled too, looking up at Harry. "I just never seem to get enough of you," he said, hands sliding over Harry's back and arse. "No one ever made me lose my control the way you did before and still do."
Harry passed his fingers through Draco's hair. "How long did you fancy me?" he asked softly. Draco always said that it had been so long, that he'd loved Harry for such a long time.
Draco closed his eyes, rubbing his face against Harry's flesh again. "A while," he said reluctantly.
"A while?" Harry pressed, stroking Draco's hair again.
Draco seriously thought about distracting Harry from this conversation. His fingers were already kneading the man's arse and his face wasn't far above his cock. He licked the skin of Harry's belly, testing to see if he would let it go.
"Might've worked if you hadn't just fucked me," Harry said with a small sigh. "You don't have to tell me, I guess."
Draco snorted. "You think you know what I am thinking now?" he teased.
"Well, you didn't answer my question," Harry countered. "And you never elaborate on what this 'long time' is that you've loved me."
"Let's go back to the bedroom and I'll try to answer," Draco said with a sigh, releasing his lover.
Harry raised an eyebrow, stepping back. "Okay, but you really don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Draco smiled, part grimace. "I know, thanks," he said, getting to his feet and kissing Harry's forehead.
Harry walked with Draco back into their bedroom and sat on the bed, staring at him.
Draco poured himself more tea, sipping it as he sat facing his lover. "It really is complicated," he admitted. "I don't exactly know how to describe it."
"Fancying me?" Harry asked, raising both eyebrows now.
"Fancying sounds so simple, and how I feel about you has never been simple," Draco said, blushing again.
Harry cocked his head a bit to the side. "What do you mean?"
"I ... I think I wanted you long before I realised what it was I was feeling," Draco admitted, looking into his tea cup.
"Back in Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
Draco nodded, not looking up. "I think I convinced myself I hated you, so I wouldn't have to face it."
"Convinced me of it," Harry said quietly.
Draco snorted. "Do you remember when we met?" he asked softly, nearly a whisper.
"In Madam Malkin's?" Harry said, remembering Draco mentioning the robe shop before.
Draco nodded.
"Yeah," Harry said, nodding as well.
"I didn't know your name then," Draco went on. "But I was so eager to talk to you. I remember falling all over myself then."
Harry remembered thinking Draco was like Dudley, but didn't say so. "Why?" he asked instead, trying to think of what had been so significant about that meeting.
"I was embarrassed later, when I found out who you were. That I had made a fool of myself trying to ... make friends," the blond continued, still watching his tea instead of Harry.
Harry stared at him. "But then on the train ..." he said, trailing off.
"Weasley pissed me off," Draco said sullenly. Then he took a deep breath. "I just didn't understand you. I didn't understand how you could pick him over me."
Harry sighed. "I didn't pick him over you," he said. "Not really. He was just ... nicer, I guess." He shrugged. "His mum helped me on the platform and ... Fred and George helped me with my trunk. And then he knew about as much as I did about Hogwarts, and explained stuff to me that I didn't know about. It felt like you would've laughed because I didn't know things. And Crabbe and Goyle weren't the nicest looking blokes."
"Yeah, it always did feel like a competition between the Weasleys and myself. And you never do seem to see that," Draco said, sighing. "Did you ever read Aesop's Fables?"
Harry frowned at the Weasley comment and shook his head at the question. "What are they?" he asked.
"You would know a lot of them I think just from expressions. 'The Fox and The Grapes' is the one I am thinking of. It's where the expression 'sour grapes,' is drawn from," Draco said, wincing a bit. "In the story there is a hungry fox that comes across the delicious looking bunch of grapes hanging on a vine above his head. He really wants them and he jumps and jumps trying to reach them but can't. So you know what happens next?" The blond looked up then.
"What?" Harry asked, still looking at him.
Draco held Harry's eyes now. "He declares that the grapes are sour after all and that he doesn't want them."
Harry frowned a bit. "What are you comparing that to?"
"It means that sometimes the way people handle not having what they really want is to convince themselves they never wanted it, that they hated it, in fact," Draco explained, still watching his lover's face.
Harry sighed quietly. "So you hated me," he concluded. "It's not something that surprises me. I wasn't too fond of you either."
Draco shook his head. "No, I hated that you didn't like me. So I tried to convince myself that I hated you. It nearly worked, too. But I was obsessed with you."
"Obsessed with me?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"You had to have noticed that I paid a lot of attention to what you were doing," Draco drawled.
"Well, you were always there," Harry recalled. "Annoyingly so. Trying to get us in trouble."
"Paid more attention to you than to Pansy, and don't think she didn't get annoyed by that," Draco admitted.
"Even while you were dating her?" Harry asked.
Draco blushed, looking down again, but nodded. "And then there was sixth year ...."
"What? You mean when you stomped on my face and broke my nose?" Harry asked, again raising an eyebrow.
Draco winced. "After that," he whispered. "I dumped Pansy."
"Why?" Harry asked.
Draco set the empty tea cup aside and examined his own hands for a moment. "Part of it was for her own safety. He had said He would kill anyone I cared about if I didn't do what He said," he whispered. "But then you started following me around, too."
"You broke up with her in part because I was following you around?" Harry's voice carried a slight tone of disbelief.
"That's not what I told myself at the time," Draco said. "I was convinced I couldn't let anyone know what I was doing, so I couldn't have her following me around and asking a lot of questions. But then there you were, doing exactly that. It was driving me crazy."
"I knew you were doing something," Harry said. "I was actually rather ... obsessed with that myself. That's what Ron and Hermione said all year."
Draco took several deep breaths, trying to steady himself. "It was an awful year and I felt like I was losing my mind," he admitted. "Then there was ... the incident ... in the bathroom."
Harry finally looked away from Draco, staring at his own legs for a very long moment. "I ... didn't know it would do that," he said quietly.
"I panicked. It was like everything that had happened all year was there and I was so angry," Draco said miserably. "I tried to hurt you. You were defending yourself."
Harry sighed. "I didn't mean for it to happen," he said. "I didn't even know what the spell did. It was the first one that came to mind."
Draco shook his head. "Only you would accidentally use dark magic and nearly kill me," he commented, sounding oddly amused. "I woke up in the hospital wing with Professor Snape hovering over me."
"It was Snape's spell," Harry replied. "Snape's book that I found it in." He shook his head. "Why does this feel like it was ten years ago?"
"It does feel far away," Draco admitted. "But I had a revelation when I woke up."
Harry finally looked up at Draco again. "What?"
"That I wasn't angry at you anymore," Draco said, looking up again at Harry face.
"Why?" Harry asked quietly.
Draco fingered the scar on his chest. "The entire rivalry just seemed ridiculous then. And I could better see how I had brought what had happened upon myself."
Harry didn't know what to say to that. He went quiet again. "And then you ... figured out you loved me?" he asked, cocking his head slightly again.
"Sounds mental, doesn't it?" Draco grimaced. "You nearly killed me and that convinced me that I have feelings for you."
"Sort of," Harry agreed with a bit of a strange laugh. "I don't - I guess - Why would you have feelings for me in the first place?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Does anyone ever really understand that?" he asked.
Harry shrugged. "I guess not. I suppose it just doesn't make sense. I mean, your dad didn't like me. He couldn’t have ever said anything good. I don't really fit into anything traditionally pure-blood, and I can't work out why anyone would have a crush on a skinny, specky bloke like me. Ginny included." He chuckled a little.
Draco grinned, reaching a hand to cup Harry's chin. "See? Proves I'm mental, I suppose," he whispered, and then leaned in to kiss Harry.
Harry smiled and kissed gently back. "I think I'm glad for that," he said quietly.
Draco looked into those green eyes and felt his heart beat faster. "So, did I answer the question?"
"Yeah," Harry whispered, leaning in to kiss again.