Author's Note: Here's the penultimate installment for you, enjoy!
Harry walked out of detention with Umbridge, and tucked his hand behind his back when he saw someone waiting for him. "Draco!" he breathed, glad he'd shut the door quick.
"Let me see," he implored. "Please." With a sigh, Harry brought his hand from behind his back. "Come with me," he urged, taking hold of his lion's uninjured hand, and led the unresisting brunet toward and into Severus' quarters.
"Yes?" the Potions Master drawled.
"Show him Harry, please."
Another sigh from the lion as he held his injured hand out to the Head of Slytherin. Severus hissed. "I take it you wish this to be reported to the ministry?"
"He does," Draco replied. Harry shot the blonde a look. "You don't want anyone else to go through this, do you?"
"No," he replied immediately, before giving the blonde a knowing look.
"Once they have gone, I will treat it for you," Severus stated. "It might take several treatments, but it will not scar." Harry nodded. As the Potions Master retreated from the room, Harry linked the fingers of his uninjured hand with Draco's, smiling as the blonde squeezed his fingers. He straightened his spine, chin up as he waited, bracing himself for whatever he would have to face this time.
HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM
"Are you all right?" Draco asked as he and Harry walked hand in hand from Severus' quarters. His lion nodded absently. He hummed doubtfully.
Harry smiled at him. "I'm surprised they believed me," he admitted in a soft voice.
"Did you think they would call you a liar?" he asked gently.
He shook his head. "I've only known three adults to believe me – well four, but I don't know if he should count, given he didn't do anything about it anyway." The blonde squeezed his fingers gently, expression curious. "My godfather, yours, and Remus – Professor Lupin," he added hastily.
"And the fourth is the headmaster," he drawled. Harry nodded, and the blonde hummed.
"What?"
"Just thinking how many people have failed you," he answered honestly. "Including myself," he added softly.
"Draco," he chided. "You can't blame yourself, you're only fifteen now, the chances of being able to do anything when you were even young-"
The blonde silenced him with a kiss he instantly responded to. As the blonde pulled back, he licked his lips. "That is an unfair advantage," Harry murmured.
Draco smiled warmly. "You have the same advantage over me," he stated. "It is simply a matter as to whether you would make use of it or not."
"It's tempting," he replied, then became aware of a male Hufflepuff staring at the two of them. "Take a picture, it'll last longer," he retorted, tugging the blonde away. "It's a muggle expression," he informed.
"I like it," he drawled. "Although, a photo is not the same as being with a physical person."
"No, but if said person would become annoyed at your continued staring, it's much safer," he replied flippantly. "Especially with magic involved."
"You have a point," he acknowledged. "You realise, it will soon be around the whole school that the two of us are in a relationship?" Harry nodded. "Are you all right with that?"
"I should be asking you that," he pointed out. "Your reputation is unsullied."
"No Slytherin will dare say anything to you," he drawled.
"You'll make sure of it," Harry murmured and smiled up at him, tugging the blonde to a stop. He leant up and kissed him sweetly.
"Told you that you have the same advantage," he murmured as his lion pulled back. Harry grinned at him. "And I'm going to enjoy every time you use it," he stated, wrapping a possessive arm around his waist. "Shall I brace myself to be pranked?"
"Once Fred and George are convinced I haven't been spelled, they'll protect you from the blowback from other lions," he stated. "And they'll check before they attack you, just in case."
"That is good to know," he murmured, kissing his lion sweetly before leading him to somewhere private. He wanted his lion all to himself for a while longer.
HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM
Harry walked into the Great Hall and silence descended, before the whispers renewed. He ducked his head and walked purposely toward the Gryffindor table. He settled opposite the twins, knowing it was the safest place – for him at least.
"Is this seat taken?" Draco drawled. Harry stilled, eyes wide.
"Not at all," the twins answered with grins.
The blonde gracefully slid onto the seat next to Harry. "Good morning," he greeted warmly, tipping his lion's chin up and kissing him softly.
"Morning," he breathed as the blonde pulled back.
"Wouldn't want any more lies to spread about you, would we?" he drawled, voice carefully pitched to ensure it carried without seeming to.
"No, we wouldn't," he answered with a shy smile. He linked fingers with the blonde under the table.