Blackmail

“Blackmail.” he answered. No use in hiding it. Everyone knew it. Why else would he marry him?

“Blackmail?” Dr. Mauro asked.

“I owed his family a life debt. They decided this was the best way to repay it. Marry their poor excuse of a son.”

“Are you homosexual?”

“I…” that was good question. He and Draco certainly had sex in the last three years but… “No.” He’d never thought of being with a man until it became necessary to complete the marriage bond.

“Does any of this surprise you Draco?” Dr. Mauro asked.

“No.”Draco fidgeted. “I hear it often enough.” Draco had been staring at his own lap since they entered the room; since they entered the first of what was sure to be many marriage counseling sessions. Really it was all a technicality. Divorce is serious business, and you need to at least pretend to save a marriage. But for Harry, this was never a marriage.

“Draco.” The psychiatrist was no addressing him.

“Yes?”

“Is there anything you’d like to say?”

“N… no.”

“How does it make you feel when Harry says these things?”

Draco simply shrugged his shoulders, eyes still staring into his lap. “It’s true. He’s never wanted this. I can’t fight him when he only tells the truth.”

“So you do want to fight him.”

“No! I… love him.” Harry rolled his eyes.

“Did you know this Harry?” the doctor questioned.

“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” At the doctor’s shocked expression Harry elaborated, “Just ask him.”

“Draco?”
“I… don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“Because Harry has told you this.”

“Because it’s true. I don’t know what love is. … I don’t think Harry does either though.”

“Doctor, he doesn’t have any friends. The only people he ever visits are his parents. He was a closet homosexual right up until we were married when he suddenly decided that we were in love, even while knowing his parents forced me into the affair.”

“Clearly you two have a good deal to talk about. But today’s session was only meant to test the waters. I think you should talk about this interpretation of love at home. And perhaps tell me about it next week. For now we have gotten off to a great start. We have plenty to talk about. I do have two final questions though. Why have you decided to seek counseling now?”

Harry answered this one, “Draco’s lawyer demands it.”

“Alright. The next question I need for you both to answer honestly. I do this with both of you in the room because if the answer is yes, I will suggest one of you moves out of the house, at least for the time being. Is this a physically abusive relationship?”

“No.” Harry answered.

Draco’s however was a bit more telling. “He rarely ever touches me. He’s never hit me.” And with that they bid adieu to the doctor and left the office. They apparated home separately.

“I don’t understand love, do I?”

Draco didn’t answer.

“You wanted this counseling. I see my friends. I work for love. You want it to fall into your lap and now you’re upset because it hasn’t.”

Draco stared directly into Harry’s eyes. “You love me.”

“You’re insane.”

“You… we… we make love. You love me.”

“We have sex.”

“We … we…”

“We fuck,” Harry interrupted.

“I love you.”

“You’re afraid of being alone. You need to stop fighting this divorce, it’s happening.”

“I… but… it’s been three years… we should try harder!” Draco pleaded.

“It’s been three years because I tried to make it work! It wouldn’t have been a day if I wasn’t trying my God damn hardest!” Harry’s voice was rising…

Draco response was silence.

“You’re so frustrating.” Again Draco stayed quiet. “I’m going to Ron and Hermione’s.”

“Are you having dinner with them?” Draco’s question remained unanswered, as Harry apparated away rather than answer.

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When Harry arrived at the Weasley home he was once again reassured. His decision to divorce Draco was logical. It was needed. His friends always reminded him of how much he had lost because he was with Draco. He often sat in their living room and watched the family watch movies together, or play games. It reminded him that Draco had stolen family from him. He couldn’t have this with a man, especially not with one as selfish as Draco.

“What’s he done now?” Ron questioned.

“Nothing. We just had our first counseling session. More of a preliminary than anything, but of course he had to be dramatic about it.”

“He’s having a hard time coping is all, Harry. He’s built a perfect little world around his manipulations and isn’t happy that you’re trying to change that.” Hermione said.

“I don’t know why you took so long Harry. Really.” Ron added.

“You know the life debt wouldn’t be repaid if I didn’t at least try, Ron.” And if Harry had given up too quickly Ginny probably would’ve held on to the idea that he was going back to her. At the time breaking up with Ginny seemed too hard a task to accomplish, it was easier this way.

Meanwhile Draco sat at the kitchen table. He’d left Harry’s dinner in the oven to keep it warm, as usual, and ate by himself, as usual. Draco used to leave a note telling Harry where the dinner was, but Harry assumed he was trying to poison him and often tossed the food out. If Harry was really hungry he could have the dinner, but if he wasn’t Draco would often take the food out to a beggar. There were few hungry beggars around their home.

Draco couldn’t come to grips with what was happening. He thought Harry and him were doing better… Harry was staying home more nights than he used to, and a few times he’d woken up to find Harry hadn’t left the bed yet. He didn’t allow snuggling but… Draco wasn’t asking for a miracle.