Chapter 2: Innocence
Harry blinked as a reporter shoved a camera in his face and snapped. "Damn. What have I done now?" Harry asked tiredly. Draco growled and sent the camera spinning, crashing into a Brewery sign before toppling over into a vegetable patch. Harry expected a curse and for him to run off, but the reporter stayed put. "Hey! That camera is private property, and you just destroyed it! Nothing I expected more than from a man like you, though. This will add great to my story of, Harry Potter, Blindsiding the Ministry and coerced by a Death Eater?'" The reporter added on the article's name after Draco's obvious confusion. Draco waited patiently for the man to finish before continuing.
"I wouldn't tell anyone about that camera if I were you, considering Harry has a restraining order against the Prophet and anyone releasing a story on him." Draco said, blackmailing the lad. Usually, Harry would be against such activities, but in this case, it was part of the court of law's agreement. Or so he hoped. He hadn't read the fine print. "Curse you, Slytherin Heir! The Prophet will have something on you and when we do, we'll be sure to share it!" Draco rolled his eyes and Harry was grateful it was so late at night and no one was around to see this apparent threat. Or, Harry was sure, another newspaper would report it.
When the reporter had finally gone, Harry turned to Draco. "How did you even know he was with The Prophet?" Harry asked Draco. Draco shrugged. "It was a lucky guess. Also clearly a junior, with a lack of professionalism. And with that attitude, it was a easy deduction that he'd scare off with one little threat. But other than that, really, a lucky one." Draco winked at Harry. Harry groaned and put his face in his hands. "You know, one day this little cunning act of yours is gonna land us in a pit of trouble." Draco smirked and wrapped a arm around Harry, and Harry was beginning to fear that Draco was drunk. "Yeah yeah, complain on the way about my Slytherin capabilities. I know how you're regretting and all."
"Regretting what? That the hat didn't put me in Slytherin?" Harry asked loudly, remembering at the last moment that it was twelve in the morning and people were sleeping. Harry wondered if it was safe to Disapparate out of shame. "Merlin Harry. I think you've drunk too much Firewhiskey." Harry blushed and turned away. "It was only because Seamus made me do it!" Harry whispered angrily, remembering when Seamus had tried out the drinking game with the group. Which was a terrible decision for a Tuesday night. Why did they even decide to meet up again? "Blame it on one of Seamus's party tactics. All of that shite just because of his promotion."
And there was that. Seamus has gotten a promotion in his job and had insisted that they all join him for a celebratory dinner. Which Harry had forced Draco to join instead of let him study in peace, which explained why Draco had been so out to get him the whole afternoon. And it had somehow gone from dinner to a whole night of drinking. All probably encouraged by Draco, Harry knew. "Let's just get a Knight Bus, alright?" Draco told him, and Harry was really wishing he had opted out of extra drinks with Draco alone while everyone else went home early. Especially with the tipsy bus and deserted streets.
~.~.~.~.~.
After a trip on the Knight Bus that had Draco wishing for a pre-Pepperup, they finally got to their room and Draco shook his off his huge jacket that had clung to him like a clingy child in the night. He needed to sleep, but the buzz in his head shouted no, at least until he got that aforementioned Pepperup. Harry wasn't doing much better, even with his puppy-like nature, and he wrapped himself up in a blanket, still fully clothed in his outerwear. "That was a mistake of utter proportions." Harry muttered sleepily. Draco sighed and lifted his wand to strip Harry of all his unnecessary robes. Harry stretched as the robes pulled off his legs.
"Oh Merlin." Draco grinned, shaking his head. "It appears I pulled off one too many." Harry was naked except for the blanket covering him and his glasses framing his blush. "Fuck's sake Draco! Turn away while I grab my pajamas!" Harry said exasperatedly. "Oh come on, it's not like I've never seen it before." Draco winked, turning around while still keeping him in his corner of his eye. Harry hurriedly stood up while catching his pajamas in one hand without using his wand, which if anything, just made Draco's lust stronger. "Are you done already?" Draco pretended, as Harry's arse slipped back into his boxers.
"That's because I was in the mood." Harry protested lamely. Draco rolled his eyes and resisted tugging on Harry's boxers. All in good time, he told himself. "And yes, I'm done." Harry said at once, smoothing out his boxers even though he was getting back into bed. "Oh, thank goodness for that." Harry glared at him, but Draco ignored him and reached for his stuff. "So, hangover potion and pepper-up?" He asked him. "Yes... please." Harry agreed, defeated. Draco smiled and whisked them out of his potion bag. Harry was utterly at Draco's beck and call for any and all potions, as he was unable to make any himself.
"Here you are." Draco told him, handing it to him on his bed, palming Harry's kneecap. Harry took it while eyeing Draco and Draco slowly took his as well. "Oh quit it and go to bed." Draco told him, knowing it was going to end up into another teasing session based on Harry's quizzical-yet evil-looking face. "I wasn't going to say anything!" Harry protested as Draco stood up. Draco gave him a look and Harry stared back like a petulant child. "I should swat you, prat." Draco gave up and gave Harry a kiss on the cheek. Harry kissed him back, sneaking the empty potion back in his bag. "And for the record, you look like Hermione when you act like that."
Draco groaned. "Oh, and there it is again." Harry laughed. "Sorry! It's not you who's trying to get a relief from being in yet another shitty story." Harry said, jokingly, but Draco could tell his mood had darkened. "Don't worry, Harry. This will pass like the other ones. Remember the ones this summer? Where you got accused of joining a psychic clan and I was to be your new psychic-overlord?" Draco quoted fondly. Harry giggled and swat at him. "Stop! That was from a crap publisher. This is the real thing." Draco grabbed Harry's hand and pressed into him. "Hey. I thought I was the pessimistic one. We'll defeat this arsehole, and all the other arseholes, okay?" Draco told him.