Draco shuddered involuntarily at the rapid and rough snapping of cameras as they went off at Harry and George as they were taking turns answering questions. Up front was Luna Lovegood's father, who was in charge of forwarding the Quibbler (the now most frequently bought by Hogwarts students) to Hogwarts this coming Monday. Even though it was Draco's idea to face the press in the first place, he was being kept in the backstage due to Harry's concern and coddling. Truthfully, Draco was glad he didn't have to deal with the press's frequent taunts on Draco's family name, and the trauma of having a flying camera trying to get a closeup of the young gay wizard was still fresh. But, he would never admit that to his overprotective boyfriend, and instead preferred to endlessly argue with Harry over not being able to stand alongside him as a true helper of the WWW.
Draco shied a little closer to the curtains, keeping his hand on it for balance. Spying on them was difficult, as the purr of the crowd often interrupted Harry or George's constant flow of talking. But he could hear a little as long as he didn't hang on the curtain hard enough to tug it down. "It's in George's and I's best interest to keep everyone safe at our event." Harry spoke confidently, but Draco could see that his nerves has long been fried. This press conference business never got easy for him. As soon as that news reporter was satisfied, another one would leap up to get there chance. Draco severely doubted the equity of inviting every local News caster in order to field our their questions at once, deleting the purpose of any 1on1 interview. It was easier, sure, but not at all easy on Draco's conscience.
Draco watched as George expertly, or maybe just wildly with a douse of luck, fielded and deflected all personal questions away from Harry. Draco watched as the tenseness gave way to ease each time. His heart, for his own part, pumped just as hard whenever they inappropriately asked about Harry's relationship with Draco. It made Draco's blood boil every time he saw Harry rub his eyelids under his glasses, a clear sign he was in fear of whatever question that bastard reporter was asking. He wanted desperately to attack them, make them respect him as much as they once did, but that was useless now. His name was destroyed.
Every moment that passed was another second until they were done with this, Draco reminded himself. It did no good to suffer on the past. He certainly already had his fill on that take. Harry would chastise him endlessly if he found out, especially now that it was Draco's job to help out Harry's mental state. He didn't have the heart to steal away attention from him. How ironic. Harry bit out a tasteless laugh and Draco cringed as his thinking stopped. His political nature came back to him and he immediately was reminded of how it would go so much smoother if he was up there with him. Again. He felt a bitter taste in his tongue and hoped it wasn't the taste of regretful blood in his mouth. He felt terrible.
Draco looked down at his watch, an attempt of Harry and George to admit Draco into the muggle world. It was a pretty watch, golden and reflected off the smooth walls of the Ministry. Draco hated it here, exactly representing a lot of Draco's least favorite memories. But it was the most probable place to start a Press Conference, and therefore it was the place chosen. 12 pm. So a couple more hours it is. Draco sneered at a couple of interns watching him fiddle with his watch and turned back to the scene. His grip on the curtain tightened a bit. He breathed in and out. People really annoyed him today.
~.~.~.~.
Shit, shit, shit, Harry thought to himself, blinking twice and fumbling with his hands. They kept asking more and more evasive questions, and Harry doubted George could put up the charade of the beautiful but ignorant Weasley twin much longer. Harry wanted more than anything to be like the media expected him to be; poised, confident, and strong. Of course, he was none of those things. He was just a really great actor. He knew Draco was watching him, and that fact just made him even more nervous, as now he had to live up to Draco's expectations. Draco would've been twice the public relations speaker Harry had been, but Harry wanted it so that Draco wouldn't have to go through something like this again. And Harry knew this wouldn't be the last that he would ever have to go through, even though he hated it endlessly.
George glanced at him and winked, hoping to assure him. Harry smiled back, although he wasn't sure what to be assured of. The crowd vowing for his deepest secrets, or getting out of here without causing a huge scandal? George had came up with this plan, once they had suggested the idea to him, and Harry had gone along with it blindly. Harry cursed himself for this, for assuming the best outcome would occur if he followed his best mate's brother's advice. What was he, a first year? George was insane. He knew that. And yet, he had let his love for him get the better of him. This was exactly what Draco was afraid of happening.
Harry rolled his eyes at himself. Could he stop overthinking things? This would be the death of himself. A reporter, probably after the same thing Lima was after, spoke up next. Harry knew it was his turn. "Yes?" He asked the man waving his hand about frantically. "Harry Potter! What would you say is the meaning of these contracts signed by Draco Malfoy, your alleged partner?" Harry's breathing stopped. What was he talking about? "What contract?" Harry fired back, before George could say anything. Harry could see the smirk that appeared on the prat's face as he knew he had reeled Harry in. "Draco Malfoy had allegedly blackmailed a man into keeping photos of you and himself private, including with the use of money."
Chapter 21: Another Press Conference
Harry knew he wasn't done talking, but he had to let his own words in. "Blackmailed? that's a highly serious offense... the Daily Prophet." Harry bit out, ignoring the name tag on the young man's robe. "What Lima and Smith did was blackmail, and let it be known that any offenses like that were never repeated." Harry's voice grew by the second and his control lessened. George tried to get Harry's attention, but failed. The smug man didn't seem to be letting go any time soon. "Of course, and they were both fined greatly for it. But this is the present, Mr. Potter, and your albeit strange choice of a partner has settled money over a case that has never reached court."
Harry was about to tell this man to stick his broom up his arse when he heard a hard tug on the curtains and flinched as the curtains directly to the side of him yanked open, and a angry but shocked Draco was revealed behind them. Harry's eyes widened in disbelief and he heard a sigh from the other side of him as George turned back to the crowd. "And that's it for the questions." A now angry group of reporters shouted at him in disapproval, but George only hopped off the stage to discuss costs with Luna's father. Harry ran over to Draco's side and closed the curtains behind him. "Let's get out of here and do damage control, alright?" Harry huffed out, not bothering to keep his voice from shaking this time.