The rest of class passed without incident. As Draco was gathering the leftover ingredients to return to the shelves, Hermione Granger walked over. She completely ignored Draco and looked at Potter. As usual, she waited for Potter to gather his things so they could leave class together. By the time Draco returned from putting the ingredients back on the shelves, Potter and Granger were gone.

"Excellent work today, Mr. Malfoy," said Slughorn. "You're really lucky to have Harry as a partner."

Even though, as usual, Draco had done most of the work. He sighed, knowing he'd get nowhere with the professor. He threw his messenger bag over his shoulder, nodded his thanks, and exited the Potions classroom.

No sooner than he left was he being pushed against a wall, a hand tight against his sternum. Draco gasped.

"What did you do, Draco." Draco knew that voice. He looked up to see Theo, a crazed look in his eye, not dissimilar to the one in the bathroom that time he lied about what had happened with Callahan.

"What are you talking about?" Draco asked as calmly as he could while being restrained. Of course, he knew exactly what Theo was talking about.

"You . . . You fucking . . . You made him cut me off."

Draco sneered at him. "I didn't make him do anything. For the record, he told me about how you were parading around the castle high as a flying Hippogriff. In broad daylight. Are you trying to get caught?"

Theo snarled, tightening his grip on Draco. "Listen here, you little shit. You had no right getting involved in my business with him. No right."

"I only told him what I'm sure he'd have wanted to know," said Draco airily. It was starting to become hard to breathe.

"Hey, is there a problem here?" Potter's voice rang heavily in Draco's eardrums. Draco flinched, eyes moving from Theo's livid expression to Potter, who stood with his hands on his hips and Hermione Granger by his side. Great, Potter to the rescue again. Draco was going to have to begin to keep tally. He couldn't keep track otherwise. Then he realized- why bother? Potter seemed hellbent on saving him every chance he could possibly get; he was going to keep doing it.

"No problem," Theo said harshly, but he still let go of Draco. Draco kept himself pressed against the wall.

"Are you sure? Because usually you don't forcefully grab people like that if there isn't a problem," Potter said coolly.

"I needed to get him to listen. In case you haven't noticed, words alone don't exactly work on him."

"Excuse me?" Draco exclaimed, affronted.

Potter's eyes narrowed. "Nott, I suggest you fuck off and leave him alone."

"Not until I find out why he cut off my supply." Theo reached forward and grabbed Draco again, this time by the shoulders, slamming him into the wall so hard he felt his skin tear.

"Tell me, you son of a bitch. Why'd you do it? Huh?"

"Because you deserve it," said Draco. "You fucking deserve it."

He didn't know how to fight back if anyone from school targeted or hexed him, but he'd be damned if he took Theo's shit lying down. Theo had already humiliated him enough for one lifetime; he was not about to amplify that.

"Draco." Theo shook his head. "You don't understand. You need to talk to him, or do something. Anything." He shook his shoulders for emphasis, and Draco winced.

"Hey. Did you not hear me?" Potter grabbed Theo, but Theo shrugged him off easily.

"Let. Him. Go."

Draco's chest swelled at the notion that Potter was trying to help him. After the way class had gone, Draco had expected for Potter to never actively seek him out again.

"What's it to you, scar face?" Theo asked, turning to face Potter.

Potter scoffed. "I'm flattered. Really. But I'm gonna need you to let go of him before you make me do something I'll regret."

"Oh yeah, like what?"

Potter looked as though he were steaming. Draco suddenly feared for Theo's safety, although he couldn't find it in himself to care.

"L-Let go of me," he said, pushing against Theo's iron grip. Of course, he didn't budge.

"Not until you tell me why you did it."

"Did what? Malfoy, what is he talking about?" asked Potter.

"He was going to stop selling to you either way, before I even said a word," said Draco, ignoring Potter's question. "I suppose I just . . . solidified his decision."

Theo growled, nails digging deep into Draco's skin.

"Stop!" he cried, thrashing in the other's grip, suddenly feeling claustrophobic.

What was he thinking, telling Callahan the truth? Why had he ridden that power wave? How did he think the situation was going to turn out, when Theo was stronger than him in every conceivable way?

"Nott, I swear to God if you don't let him fucking go-"

"You'll what? What'll you do, Potter? Better yet, why do you even care?"

Great question.

"Why are you here, defending him when you hate him?"

"I don't hate him," said Potter, and Draco felt as though he were flying. His crush, the boy who had kissed him, was standing before him reaffirming the fact that he didn't hate him. They may have already had this conversation, but a little reminder didn't hurt especially considering Draco hated himself.

"What about you, Granger?" asked Theo. "He called you a Mudblood for years."

"He's apologized to me for all of it," said Granger, stepping forward to face Theo. "And I forgive him."

Draco felt rather than heard the gasp escape his throat. Theo's eyes widened.

"You forgive this . . . This Death Eater?" And Draco was burning, burning, burning. Theo's grip was too tight and his words stung too much and there was a certain determination in Potter that Draco had never seen before and it was all too much-

"I do," said Granger. "So I suggest you listen to Harry."

"You know what he did in the war, right?" asked Theo, finally letting go of Draco. Draco leaned back against the wall for support and heaved for breath.

"I'm aware," said Granger.

"And you still forgive him?"

"I still do. I don't recall that being any of your concern, though."

Theo rounded on her, and Potter stood in front of her to protect her.

"Back off," Potter instructed.

Draco leapt forward and lunged for Theo, yanking him back and away from Granger. Theo turned around and pulled Draco up by the material of his robes.

"I was so blinded by my attraction to you that I didn't see you for how you really are. A spineless coward, someone who should've gotten the Kiss with his father. You told Callahan just to get back at me, I know it. Your personality makes you ugly, Draco."

Draco was finding it hard to breathe in this position. He began flailing his hands, and he was vaguely aware of Potter shouting something, but all he could focus on was his soft panting for air and Theo's rock hard expression drilling into his eyes.

"You filthy piece of shit. I can't believe I ever dated you. You aren't worth the dirt beneath my shoe. No wonder you always disappointed your father. You disappoint everyone."

He let go of Draco, and Draco staggered as he bumped back into the wall. He gasped for sweet, sweet air, and Theo's words slowly sank in. He felt tears prickle at the corners of his eyes, but he would not cry in front of Potter and Granger. He would not.

"A-At least I'm not a drug addict," said Draco, willing his voice not to shake. Theo's comments had rattled him considerably, and he was doing all he could to stay put together in front of his audience.

"At least I didn't join You-Know-Who's bloody ranks!"

Draco didn't know what to say to that. Usually he was so good at arguing, but now his confidence was failing him and he didn't know what to do and Potter was right there watching him-

"Fuck you, Theo. Fuck you."

Theo scoffed. "You wish, you tosser."

"No, actually, I don't."

"Good. Because I don't, either. I'm disgusted that I ever let myself be intimate with you."

That one hurt. Draco's lips folded in on themselves to prevent any wobbling.

"Sod off, will you?" said Potter. "If you hate him so much, why are you still here?"

"Because he's a traitor and a liar, and he cut off my supply. You're fooling yourself by defending him."

"I'll defend whomever I please," said Potter. "It's frankly none of your business."

Draco tried to push past Theo to get to Potter and Granger, but Theo put a hand out to stop him. "Oh, no you don't."

"Let him go," said Potter, more darkly this time.

Theo laughed. "Or else what? Is the little orphan boy gonna bring out the big guns?"

It happened in a flash of a second. One second, Potter was staring at Theo. The next second, he raised a fist, swung it at him, and punched the living daylights out of him.

Draco grinned.

Theo staggered backwards, and Draco took his chance to escape to safety. He stood in front of Potter, who was wincing and shaking his fist.

"Merlin, that hurt," he muttered.

Theo clutched his face, howling in pain.

"That oughta do the trick," said Potter. Then he turned his attention to Draco. "Did he hurt you?" he asked softly. "Are you okay?"

Taken aback by the lack of hostility in his tone, Draco answered, "Y-Yeah. I'm fine. Better than fine, actually. T-Thank you for doing that. You didn't have to."

"Are you kidding? The git was asking for it."

Draco realized he'd now seen two out of the three members of the trio punch people, and one of them had been inflicted on himself. He wondered how Weasley's hook was.

Draco chuckled, still in shock. "I suppose he was."

Theo growled, moving his hand away from his face to reveal a spout of blood spewing from his nose. "Fuck you, Potter."

Potter smiled dashingly. "No thanks."

Draco laughed. For the first time in months, he laughed.

Theo reached for Draco again, but this time Potter was prepared. He stepped in front of Draco, protecting him.

"Uh, I don't think so. Piss off."

Defeated, Theo cast them one last glare before sauntering away.

"I can't believe you did that," said Draco, as Potter turned back around to face him.

"What are you talking about? He deserved it, especially with all those things he was saying to you."

Draco shrugged. "I mean, he wasn't exactly wrong about all of it."

Potter looked nothing short of horrified. "You don't . . . believe those things, do you?"

Draco gulped, looking from Potter to Granger, who wore a most indiscernible expression.

"I dunno," he said. "It's kinda hard not to when everyone's been telling you them your whole life."

"Malfoy . . ."

"I mean, you have to admit he was right. I was a Death Eater. I hurt people."

"You did what you had to do to survive," said Granger. "I realize that now. I also realize that you were brought up in a really toxic way that affected your personal principles really deeply."

Draco swallowed again. He was not emotionally prepared for this conversation. He didn't think he ever would be. And here he was, somehow having it anyway.

"Doesn't excuse anything," he said. "I made all my own choices. I could have chosen to believe otherwise. I didn't."

"Maybe you were a prat about some things," acknowledged Granger. "But I'm not sure I agree with the latter part of your statement. How would you have known any better?"

Draco didn't have an answer to that.

"I-I-"

"Exactly."

"S-So . . . You forgive me? For everything?"

Granger looked heartbroken. "Of course I do, Malfoy. I'm sorry I rejected you earlier."

Draco felt like crumpling up into a little ball and then rolling away. No one had ever apologized to him quite like this before.

"It's . . . It's okay," he said, because really all he wanted was to be on good terms with Potter and his friends. He was so sick and tired of the unnecessary conflict and drama. He was sick of the rivalry, he was sick of the name-calling, and most of all he was sick of pretending that he didn't want to grab Harry Potter, push him up against a wall and-

"You're a changed person, Malfoy. I see that now. You're one of the good ones. You know, Luna told us about what you did for her. And Ollivander. And the others. While they were kept prisoner."

Draco felt colour splash on his cheeks. "I was only trying to do what any decent person would have done."

"That's just it," said Granger. "You are a decent person."

Draco looked to Potter, perplexed that the one witch he treated worse than all the rest was standing here, professing not only acceptance but forgiveness. What was this world coming to? When had things gotten so flip-flopped?

"She's right," said Potter with a shrug, like it was the simplest thing in the world, and Draco wanted to cry because Potter was being so gentle and nice to him, but he would never want him in the same way Draco wanted him.

"Y-You think so?" Draco asked, then internally cursed himself for sounding so insecure.

Granger nodded. "You should think more highly of yourself, Malfoy. You're a good person. We promise."

Draco didn't think anyone had ever told him he was good before. Not even Theo or Pansy, and now to hear it from two people whose opinions mattered more than anyone else's . . .

"I've got to go. Harry, I'll see you at lunch, okay?" said Granger, and as Potter nodded Draco watched her leave with her brown curls bouncing behind her.

Draco felt close to tears. He swallowed thickly, jamming his tongue into the roof of his mouth to keep from crying. He could not let Potter see him like this.

"Malfoy . . . Are you really alright?"

And oh, Draco was so sick of people asking him if he was alright that he almost decked Potter right then and there!

"Yes," he said, strained. "I'm fine."

Potter frowned at him, peering closely as though he were looking for something. Draco didn't know what he expected to find, but whatever it was, it was sure to be long gone.

"You know, it's okay not to be okay. About these things."

Draco felt his face automatically harden. Years of old habits die hard, he figured. "Whatever gave you that impression, Potter?" he sneered. "I'm perfectly fine."

Potter didn't look convinced. "I just found out that Ginny fancied another man before we broke up."

Draco couldn't suppress his gasp. "What?"

"Dean Thomas. Can you believe it?"

Draco shuddered. Potter noticed.

"I know he hurt you, Malfoy . . . Badly. And I'm sorry he couldn't keep his wand to himself."

"You don't have to apologize on his behalf," said Draco, wondering why Potter even cared. Wondering when Potter had even come to care for him. He'd visited Draco in the hospital both times, and he'd just protected him from Theo's wrath. It was clear the Gryffindor cared, but why?

"Of course I do," said Potter. "You're my friend, and you didn't deserve that."

Friend. Friend?

"F-Friend?"

Did friends kiss each other until their lips were bruising?

"Yeah, you're my friend. Or, at least I thought so, anyway."

Draco's heart was doing that thing again where it was overworking itself. He knew Potter would never like him back, so the idea of friendship hurt, but it was somehow also more than he could have ever asked for.

"Y-Yeah. You're my friend. We're friends," said Draco, trying out the words on his tongue. He found he both loved and hated them.

Potter smiled at him, and his smile was enough to trigger an emotional reaction in Draco. He felt his eyes begin to sting again, and he bit his bottom lip to keep it from wobbling.

"Malfoy?"

Draco couldn't contain his sniffle. Potter calling them friends, that soft tone, all while still using his last name, was all too much for him to handle.

"Hey, hey, hey." Potter gathered Draco in his arms, fiercely hugging his trembling form. "I know he hurt your feelings, but it's alright, he won't hurt you anymore, I taught him a lesson."

And of course that was why Potter thought Draco was crying.

"Malfoy . . ."

The word sounded so pained that Draco sniffled again as a single tear fell down his cheek. Here he was breaking down in front of Potter yet again, this time because he liked him and Potter would never like him back.

"I know he hurt you," Potter continued, pulling out of the hug to fix his green eyes on Draco's. "But next time he gives you trouble, any at all, you come find me. Okay?"

Draco nodded. "Okay."

"Please don't cry, Draco," Potter said, oh so very softly. Their faces were close enough for Draco to feel Potter's breath, and he gasped because Potter had used his first name. Potter had used his first name. Potter had-

Potter reached forward and swiped a thumb across Draco's cheek, collecting the tears that had fallen. Draco was ready to completely melt down the action was so gentle.

"Don't cry," Potter whispered again, pulling Draco into his chest. Draco immediately felt warmth encase him. He resisted the urge to snuggle into Potter's chest. This was . . . nice. This was so nice.

Potter's lips found his forehead, and Draco was about ready to explode. His body didn't know how to react, whether he should relax or tense up. His heart would be going into overdrive any minute now, and he sincerely hoped he'd be alone when he finally broke down. It wouldn't be long now. He had to get to safety, although ironically he already felt safe right here in Potter's arms.

"I won't let him hurt you ever again," Potter said quietly, and then his lips lingered on Draco's forehead as Potter swayed them back and forth. Draco felt a sob ripple throughout his body, of grief and pain and yearning for something he could never have.

"Shhh, Draco, it's okay," Potter murmured soothingly, pressing Draco even tighter into his chest. Draco clutched onto Potter's shoulders for dear life, because he was sure to faint any second now because Potter had used his name again and it had sounded so sweet and intimate on his tongue and Draco wanted him to say it again and again and again.

Draco chanced a glance up at Potter. His green eyes were swimming down at him, full of something Draco had never seen before. As Potter traced another finger across Draco's cheek, drying his tears, Draco realized with a jolt in his chest that it was adoration.

But how could that be? He ran away from you.

Pansy's words floated through his mind.

"If anything, he liked the kiss so much he didn't know what to do so he panicked and ran."

Then Potter's words from class came next.

"I didn't mean to make you so uncomfortable. I promise I will never do anything like that again."

Potter hadn't been disgusted by him at all. He was worried that Draco had felt disgusted by him. All too suddenly, Draco felt the need to be brave. It swam through his guts and coursed through his insides like a churning river. It rang a bell in his head, setting off a signal for him to act. He needed to do this. He had a burning feeling he'd sincerely regret it if he didn't.

"Potter, I . . . I was wondering. How did you feel? About the kiss?"

Potter's expression hardened. Softly, he removed his hand from Draco's face, but he did not let go of him.

"I thought we weren't going to talk about the kiss."

Draco frowned. "I know, but . . . I just want to know. Did you feel . . . affected? At all?"

Potter looked down at him. "Did you?"

"I asked first."

"Why are you asking?"

"Because I-" Love you.

Wait.

What?

Potter cocked an eyebrow. "Because . . .?"

But Draco's chest had already started to tighten and squeeze and coil. His breathing picked up, and soon enough he was hyperventilating with Potter watching him and he didn't know what to do and Potter would surely hate him if he ever told him the truth that was bursting at the seams and begging to be let out and Draco loved him-

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Draco, breathe. Breathe for me, yeah?"

Draco shook his head as he continued to puff out rapid breaths, feeling his face flame up in humiliation.

"I'm gonna do it with you, okay?" Potter let go of him and placed both his hands on his shoulders. "We're going to count together."

"C-C-Count?" Draco gasped, uncomprehending. He'd counted so many times, but he'd forgotten that was something he could do.

"Mhm." Potter gently lifted one of Draco's limp arms and brought it to Draco's chest. His heart was pounding like crazy. Oh god oh god oh god oh god-

"Draco, do you feel that? You're going to pass out if you don't slow down your breathing. Now, feel mine."

As Potter brought Draco's hand over to his own heart, Draco gasped and choked. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't breathe.

"Feel how mine is nice and steady," said Potter soothingly. He drew in a deep breath, and Draco felt his hand rise and fall with Potter's inhale and exhale. "Just like that."

Draco nodded, then attempted to draw in a deep breath of his own. He failed spectacularly, immediately reverting to panting and gasping.

"Try again," Potter instructed gently. "Once you inhale, you're going to hold your breath, and we're going to count."

This time, when Draco breathed in, he was successfully able to hold his breath.

"Good," Potter praised, and in his shock at the unexpected kindness Draco let go of the breath.

Unphased, Potter said, "Do another one."

Draco breathed in deeply, feeling very, very embarrassed, and held his breath for dear life.

"Now we're going to count," said Potter. "One . . . Two . . . Three . . . Four . . . Five . . . Six . . . Seven . . . Now, release."

Draco made the mistake of releasing all his air at once. His chest still felt too tight. He still couldn't breathe right.

"Hey, hey, hey, it's okay. I'm not going anywhere. We're going to do it again. This time, we're going to count to four while we inhale. Okay?"

Draco mutely nodded.

"Okay. One . . . Two . . . Three . . . Four."

"And this time, when you release, you're going to do it on a count of eight. Got it?"

Draco nodded again. Once he reached seven, he began ever so slowly releasing his breath.

"Good, that's really good," said Potter. "Let's do another one, yeah?"

Draco felt himself slowly start to relax as he breathed in again. His chest was loosening, and he was beginning to feel the onset of exhaustion creep in.

"Keep breathing, Draco. That's it. Just like that."

As Draco inhaled and exhaled, inhaled and exhaled, he felt his heart rate slowly start to go down. He kept his hand on Potter's chest, Potter's hand clasped on top of his.

Finally, once he felt completely centered and back to earth, if a little dazed, he removed his hand from Potter's chest.

"Better?" Potter asked.

Draco nodded, still catching his breath.

"H-How'd you . . . How'd you know what to do?"

Potter smiled softly. "I used to get them all the time after the war, sometimes in the middle of the night. Ron would walk me through them. I have a great supportive system with the Weasleys. They're like family."

Draco had a feeling the "like" was unnecessary, as the Weasleys were the closest to family Potter would ever get. He wondered if Potter included the "like" because he still subconsciously separated himself from the Weasley clan because he was not related by blood, and therefore felt like he didn't completely belong. The thought made him sad.

"Oh."

"Draco . . . I'm going to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me."

That was almost enough to give Draco another panic attack. He wasn't sure if he was prepared to answer Potter's question, but because he wanted to be brave, he said, "Okay."

"Did . . . Did you feel violated when I kissed you? At all?"

Draco could be a coward. He could be a coward and pick the easy way out, guarding his feelings and ensuring he wouldn't be hurt, keeping Potter at just enough of a distance away to where his unrequited love wouldn't completely devour him whole.

But Draco didn't want to be a coward anymore.

"Potter, I-"

"Harry?"

Weasley's voice cut into Draco's answer, and Draco flinched from surprise. He was aware of how close he and Potter were standing to each other, and apparently Weasley was, too, for he raised an eyebrow.

"What's going on?" Weasley asked.

"Nothing," said Potter casually, far too casually for how not-nothing it was. "I was just talking to Draco about our potions project."

"Draco? You're calling him Draco now?"

"Well, yeah. We're friends. Friends usually tend to call each other by their first names."

Weasley paled considerably. "Friends."

Potter nodded. "Yeah. Problem?"

Weasley frowned. "Yeah, I have a problem."

Draco wanted to shrink in on himself until he no longer existed. Damn Weasley and his impeccably poor timing and his stealing Draco's chance to tell Potter how he really felt about their kiss. With Weasley standing here staring at him as though he'd murdered his mother, Draco had never felt smaller.

"Well, that's too bad," said Potter nonchalantly. "By the way, have you seen Hermione?"

"No."

"Well, she and Draco made up. Right after class."

Weasley looked confused. "That's . . . Great? I guess?"

Potter sighed. "Ron, we'll talk about this later. We're going to be late for Charms. Let's go."

Potter turned toward Draco, giving him a once over. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Draco nodded, plastering on a smile even as it strained the muscles in his cheeks. "Never better."

"I'll see you later, then."

He watched Potter and Weasley walk away, and he felt something large sink inside his stomach.