Chapter 18

October 23rd, 2000

"Hey Potter!" Peter Maxwell called out as he came running down the field to catch up with Harry.

Maxwell was American and one of the few trainees that didn't know who Harry Potter was or what he'd accomplished outside of the auror corps. Something Harry rather liked.

"Nice work out there, I've never seen someone hit the bullseye forty-two times in a row. That's gotta be a record of some sort!" He said as he fell into step with Harry.

"Thanks, I guess it just comes naturally. It's fun though."

"Yeah it is! So one more week to go 'eh? I can't wait to see my family again."

"Yeah me too. This is the longest I've been away from them with no contact in years." Harry said excitedly.

"I'm sure your boyfriend can't wait to see you either, with the way you talk about him I'd go crazy being away from him that long." He said with a sly smile.

"Err, what?"

"What was his name? Oh yeah, Draco." He said with a long drawn out emphasis on Draco. Harry felt his cheeks get hot as he blushed.

"Oh, he's not my boyfriend. We're just really good friends."

Maxwell stopped dead in his tracks and looked genuinely confused at Harry.

"Oh. Sorry, just the way you talk about him is the way I talk about my wife." He jogged to catch up once more. "It just sounded like you guys were in love. Sorry man."

Harry thought about just how much he'd actually talked about Draco, then shook his head. They had made their way to the eating area and began filling their plates.

"It's fine, I guess I didn't realize I talked about him that much."

"I mean, it's okay, if you do love him you know. He sounds like a great guy." He said as they took their seats next to the other aurors. Harry simply nodded and smiled in response as one of the other guys took to complimenting him about his marksmanship. He listened half-heartedly and responded accordingly. But his thoughts were stuck on Draco.

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Later that night, Harry lay awake in his bunk thinking of the time he'd spent with Draco. He supposed he did like Draco a bit more than just as a friend. They'd spent a lot of time together in the last two years and had grown closer than he ever thought they would.

He remembered the first Christmas they spent together at the Burrow and how he'd felt when he held Draco in his arms. He remembered Draco's sweet smell and the feel of his silky blonde hair between his fingers. He remembered the nights they'd spent walking through the gardens at Malfoy Manor and the way Draco's eyes shined unusually bright in the moonlight. He remembered the way he felt when they danced together the first time and how it felt so natural just swaying to the music.

If he thought about it, Draco was a very attractive man. Besides his intoxicating scent and enchanting eyes, he had a slim lean body that fit exceptionally well into his perfectly tailored suits. Even his casual clothes seemed to hug his frame in the most arousing way.

He thought about the sound of Draco's laugh and the way it always made him smile involuntarily. He thought about the way his long hair fell around the sharp angles of his face. He thought of the way Draco scrunched up his face and furrowed his brows when he was in deep concentration. He thought of the way he felt a burning heat anytime they touched each other, and the bolts of electricity that shot through him. If he really thought about it, he truly did like everything about Draco. He even liked his short temper, even when it was directed at him, which wasn't often anymore.

He thought about the way he always felt complete when he was around Draco. The way Draco understood him in a way that no one else did. Both of them were forced into the situations that shaped them into the men they are today. Harry was forced into being the hero. Draco was forced into the dark side. Both of them doing what they needed to survive.

They both knew Voldemort the way no one else could. They both witnessed first hand the true unapologetic evil that he was. And they both understood each other's feelings even when they sat in complete comfortable silence.

If he really sat there and thought about it, then yes -

I'm in love with Draco Malfoy.

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That same day

Back at Malfoy Manor, Draco sat in the armchair in the library reading through a new potions book he'd just been gifted from Hermione. Andromeda walked in after putting Teddy down for the night.

"Hey Draco." She said softly.

He looked up from his book and smiled.

"Hey aunt 'Meda. Teddy's sleeping soundly then?"

She nodded her head and sat in the chair next to him.

"Is that the new book Miss Granger gave you?"

"Yes, I was hoping it would have some new techniques I could use. I'm having a rather difficult time with my cruciatus potion lately. I just can't seem to concentrate correctly."

"Mm. Yes, I've noticed you've had a bit of trouble concentrating on a lot of things the last month or so. Why is that?"

He knew the reason he was having so much trouble was because Harry wasn't there. Even though it sounded ridiculous because it's not like Harry was helping him brew the actual potion, but he desperately missed his presence. He sighed and figured he might as well just come clean. He assumed they could all tell anyway.

"I suppose it feels sort of empty around here without Harry."

Andromeda smiled back at him.

"I suppose you're right. It has felt like something's missing since he's been gone."

Draco simply nodded as he stared down at the cover of his book.

"He'll be back next Monday though, I'm sure he'll be overjoyed to see you again." She said.

"You know Aunt 'Meda, it's funny. My younger self would be laughing at the thought of missing Harry Potter."

Andromeda smiled as she stood and began walking towards the door. She looked back at him just before the entryway.

"Oh Draco, I don't think your younger self would think it that wild of a concept, actually. In fact, I think your younger self would know exactly why you miss him so much."

She turned and disappeared into the hallway before Draco could respond.

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Monday October 30th, 2000

Malfoy Manor

Ron was leaning with his back against the counter in the kitchen of Malfoy Manor. All of the Weasley's, including their spouses, and almost every Gryffindor of their year was at the manor helping to plan the welcome home party for Harry. Pansy was also there, but she wasn't much help. She claimed to be 'supervising' as she sat sprawled out on the couch with a box of chocoballs. Draco was in deep concentration making sure the dough on top of the treacle tart was perfectly spaced.

"Alright, Hermione just left for the train station. She said Harry's train should be arriving in an hour." Said Ron.

"Good, this should be done baking five minutes before they arrive then!" Said Draco, finally satisfied with the dough placement.

"Malfoy, not that I don't enjoy watching you slave over something like this, but why didn't you just have the elves make it?"

"Harry's the one that taught me how to make these. I wanted to show him I can do it on my own now." Draco replied proudly.

"Ah." Ron nodded his head, impressed with Draco's efforts.

Draco carefully placed the baking sheet into the oven and shut it. He cast a countdown spell above it so he'd know exactly when to remove the tart.

"Hey Weasley… can I ask you something?"

"Yeah mate, what's up?"

"You and Granger, you were friends before you became a couple right?"

Ron smiled at the memory. "Yeah, really good friends. We still are."

"Dating each other didn't change anything about your friendship then?" Asked Draco as he stood over the sink to wash his hands.

"Oh no. I mean that's the best part. We know each other so well and I know that I can go to her for anything. Same with her. Dating your best friend is like having the best of both worlds. She loves me like a girlfriend but she's always there for me, like a friend."

"Hm. I guess that makes sense." Draco said as he dried his hands. "It wasn't awkward at first?"

"Only a little. We were sort of unsure how to go about being a couple. But it just kind of falls into place. You do everything like before except you can hold hands and kiss… and shag… now." He blushed as he said the last part.

Draco nodded his head and stared at the floor.

"Who is it Malfoy?"

Draco looked up and locked eyes with Ron. He took a deep breath and exhaled with one name on his lips.

"Harry."

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That same day

Hermione had just arrived at King's Cross Station as the train slowly hissed to a stop. She was nearly vibrating with excitement as she waited to see her best friend for the first time in two long months. She kept her eyes locked on the entrance to the carriage, but it was so jam packed with people that it was hard to tell which head of brown hair was Harry's.

Another minute or so had passed when she finally saw the disheveled mop of dark hair and those thin wire circular glasses that she had grown so fond of since she was eleven.

"HARRY!!!" She screamed as she ran up to him and nearly toppled him over with the biggest hug she'd given him since she thought he was going to die in the forbidden forest.

He laughed and wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey Hermione! Merlin I've missed you!"

She let go of him and stepped back so he could grab his suitcase. Her eyes widened as she took in the new look of her best friend. He had gained at least forty pounds of pure muscle and his once loose fitting clothes were now stretched to their max. He had a few veins popping out of his arms which looked to be the size of small stones.

"Merlin fuck Harry. What on earth did they feed you there?! You look like… like, HUGE!"

"Oh yeah, the guys there were sort of jealous. I didn't even workout as often as them. It just sort of happened." He said as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"It must be the strength of your magic, I've heard it can help aid in the development of muscle when exercising daily. If it was hard to keep the men away from you before, it'll be damn near impossible now."

"Yeah, speaking of men Hermione. There's something I need to tell you."

She narrowed her eyes curiously at him. Harry's face started to blush.

"I'm in love, Hermione."

"Oh." She raised her brows at him. "Err… with who?"

He paused and stared deeply into her brown eyes that were now filled with curiosity and suspicion.

"Draco."

She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled up at him.

"Let's go then."

They walked to the apparation point in the alley behind the station, linked arms and disappeared with a crack to Malfoy Manor.