Potter and Draco ended up falling asleep like that.

When Draco came to, splotches of raw, early light flickered on the wall and Potter's grip on him, strangely, had barely loosened in his sleep. He was snoring lightly, breath falling out in wisps on the back of Draco's neck, where Potter had placed delicate kisses when telling him goodnight.

Draco sighed contentedly, wiggling a bit to adjust and closing his eyes once again.

When he next woke and stirred, Potter was tracing patterns on his back with one hand while the other was wrapped firmly around his middle.

"Good morning," Potter said, all low and sleepy and sultry, and Draco had to stifle a noise of satisfaction as that hand pulled him closer and pressed another kiss into the back of his neck.

"How'd you sleep?" Draco asked, rolling over to face him.

"Like a baby." He looked smug.

He smiled. "Me too. No nightmares."

"Me neither."

"Should we do this more often?" Draco asked. "It seems to have worked quite well."

Potter smiled. "I wouldn't mind waking up like this every morning."

Now Draco was surely blushing. "You've got to stop flattering me, Potter."

Potter chuckled. "Never."

They both had a free period after lunch, so that was when they decided they'd meet to go to McGonagall's. Draco had wanted to wait, for what he wasn't sure, but all he knew was that he was definitely not ready to go to her now in the clear light of day, but Potter had insisted that they rip the bandaid off.

Draco had subsequently asked what a bandaid was, and Potter had laughed wildly at him for several moments before sobering up at the scathing look on Draco's face and explaining.

So now they were walking, rather closely together, to the Headmistress's office. Draco's nerves were manifesting in the form of profuse sweat.

When they arrived, Draco turned to Potter.

"We're really doing this," he said, as steadily as he could.

"Would you like me to knock, or would you?"

Draco grimaced. "I think it's important that I do."

He raised a fist and knocked.

When the Headmistress saw it was them, her expression turned grim.

"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter. What can I do for you?"

Potter looked at Draco.

"Erm." Draco cleared his throat. "I have information on my attackers."

McGonagall's eyes widened. "Please come in."

When they were all seated, Draco wrung his hands together in his lap, knee bouncing anxiously.

"I must say, I was not expecting you to come forward, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco knew he was a coward, but to hear it from McGonagall hurt.

"I know," he said. "But, P- Harry talked me into it."

If possible, McGonagall's eyes widened further.

"He's being modest," said Potter. "He made the decision for himself. No pressure."

"Well, regardless, I'm very relieved to hear you've come to your senses."

"So." Now that Draco was here, he didn't know how to spit out the information. McGonagall's gentle but intense gaze made him squirm, and he knew Potter was looking at him too. "Erm, so basically, their names are Eric and Blaine, and they're fifth years."

McGonagall gasped softly.

"What?" Potter asked.

"They're Hufflepuffs," she said quietly.

Draco scoffed. "Somehow I find that hard to believe."

"Thank you for coming forward, Mr. Malfoy," said McGonagall. "I know that couldn't have been easy. I want to assure you that action will be taken, and I will do absolutely everything in my power to expel them."

"Everything in your power?" Draco echoed. "That sounds like something may go wrong."

"I cannot expel them without evidence- We would be sued."

"You need evidence?" Potter asked coldly, and Draco had to hide his shock because he had never heard him speak to an authority figure like that before. "Look at him. He would never come here to confess unless it was serious."

"Mr. Potter, do try to understand that their parents would not allow such a thing to-"

"Why would Draco frame innocent students?" Potter asked.

McGonagall sighed. "It isn't about whether Mr. Malfoy would frame anybody- Their parents will not accept their expulsion without hard evidence. And I know that Mr. Malfoy wouldn't frame an innocent student, but that is irrelevant."

Potter sighed. "So how are we supposed to prove they did it?"

"We continue conducting our search for the weapon."

Potter perked up. "It's in the Forbidden Forest."

McGonagall leaned forward. "How do you know?"

"I overheard them talking about it in the corridors," said Potter. "Then I confronted them- that's how I got their names. I'm surprised they told me anything- they were the same guys who bullied Draco and tripped him beginning of term."

"So there's a pattern of bullying from them," said McGonagall.

"Yes."

Draco felt very absent from this conversation all of a sudden. He cleared his throat.

"We don't need to get into all that," he said, feeling self-conscious with their attention on him, even though he was the one who had asked for it.

McGonagall looked at him with a mixture of pity and concern on her face. Draco didn't like it one bit.

"This wasn't an isolated incident, is what you're telling me."

"Well-"

"No, it wasn't. These boys have had it out for Draco since the beginning of term."

Draco shook his head. "That's hardly-"

"Mr. Malfoy, I'm concerned you aren't taking this as seriously as-"

"I just don't want any trouble," Draco said quietly.

"Any trouble? Mr. Malfoy, any concern of a student harming another in my school is something that must be treated with the utmost seriousness. Do you understand how important it is that we punish the boys responsible?"

Potter was looking at him, now, and he didn't look too happy. What had Draco said?

"Yes," he said, because he didn't like the way they were looking at him.

McGonagall looked like she wanted to say more, but instead sighed in resignation. "We will concentrate our search for the weapon in the Forbidden Forest, and halt the search elsewhere. Thank you for coming forward. In the meantime, I will contact Mr. Blythe and Mr. Smith, and question them about their whereabouts that evening."

"Are you sure nothing more can be done?" Potter asked. "We're certain these are Draco's attackers, and I don't want there to be even the smallest chance they won't get punished."

"Like I told you, I cannot punish them without hard proof," said McGonagall.

"Is this not proof enough?" Potter asked, gesturing to Draco. "He's coming forward. This wasn't easy for him."

"No one's saying it was, Mr. Potter," said McGonagall. "But the case is, I cannot punish students without hard evidence. Right now, it's your word against theirs."

Draco felt queasy. There was a chance they'd get away with this. There was a chance they'd continue to roam free, with the knowledge that Draco had told, and oh god, they'd really have it out for him then, they'd hurt him and humiliate him, and eventually Potter would get sick of saving him, of always having to play the hero . . .

"Draco?" Potter asked, sounding worried. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," Draco said. Potter furrowed a brow.

"We're gonna take care of this. Okay?"

"How do you know that?" Draco inwardly cursed himself for sounding so weak. "What makes you so sure we're going to find the weapon?"

"We'll Accio it," said McGonagall.

Why hadn't Draco thought of that?

"Oh."

The corners of Potter's lips twitched.

"Everythings' going to be okay, Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall said rather soothingly. "I know what you're thinking. You're worried that they will somehow get away with this and then target you for telling. Well, first off I want to admonish you for doubting my ability to handle things like this in my school. Secondly, I want to assure you that I will not let any more harm come down onto you, not after this."

Draco nodded, albeit skeptically. "Alright."

"Is there anything we can do to speed this process along?" Potter asked.

McGonagall shook her head. "I'll call them in as soon as I retrieve the weapon, which I will take care of promptly. This will be handled punctually, Mr. Potter."

Potter nodded. "Okay."

He and Draco stood up. Draco's muscles were rigid. He was vaguely aware that his hands were shaking.

"Draco, hey."

He snapped up. Potter looked concerned. "It's going to be okay," he said softly.

Draco could only nod.

They saw themselves out of McGonagall's office.

Harry had just finished updating Ron and Hermione on the series of events over the last few days. He left out the part where he and Draco got intimate, because he still felt like that was their business and theirs alone, and he really didn't need Ron judging him when he had bigger fish to fry.

"So Eric and Blaine are outta here, is what I'm hearing," Ron said once Harry had finished. "Good fucking riddance."

"Thought you would have said he deserved it," Harry said bitterly.

Ron frowned. "I'm not a complete psycho- nobody deserves that."

"That's just horrible," said Hermione. "How is he holding up?"

"He's . . . Hanging in there," Harry decided on. Because the truth is, he didn't know how Draco was truly holding up. He could be so closed off and distant, and ever since they'd left McGonagall's he'd pulled away from Harry. Harry wondered if it was because he was getting doubts about where they stood, but that couldn't be it. They'd literally slept in each other's arms the previous night.

So what was it?

"And, Ron, I've been meaning to tell you," said Harry. "Since I like him and want to pursue something with him, I'm going to need you to accept him."

Ron sighed. "I know I haven't been exactly fair to him," he said. "He apologized to me and I threw it back in his face."

"It isn't too late to make amends," said Harry. "In fact, it's the perfect time because he and I made up, too. From the whole wrist thing."

"Harry, that fight was pointless. Obviously Malfoy was not trying to seduce you or manipulate you. I could have told you that," said Hermione.

Harry sighed. "It felt like manipulation to me, alright? I felt played with. And I didn't know what his intentions were."

"His intentions seem good," said Hermione. "Besides, if the rumors are true, isn't he still-"

Harry flushed. "Erm-"

Hermione gasped. "Did you-"

"No," Harry answered quickly, a little too quickly, but they hadn't, and Hermione was about to assume the worst-

"Oh, you so did," she argued.

"Not all the way," Harry confessed.

Ron looked like he was going green.

Hermione looked relieved. "Good. Don't take advantage of him."

Guilt flooded Harry's chest. He should never have touched Draco like that. He saw it now. It had been too early, too much, and the other boy was so caught up in his arousal that he hadn't been able to properly think the situation through.

"I won't," said Harry. "I want to do this right. I want to treat him right."

"Well, that's good to hear," said Hermione. "I'm sure you gave him a right scare before he got hurt."

If possible, Harry grew even guiltier. "It's my fault," he said in realization. "Draco didn't defend himself because of me."

"Hey." Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do not blame yourself for what those arseholes did. That was completely outside of your control. You couldn't have known that would happen."

"But I put him in that headspace," Harry said miserably. "I made him feel so down on himself he felt as though he deserved to get stabbed."

"Chances are, he was probably already feeling like that," said Hermione, "as much as I hate to say it."

That, somehow, made Harry feel worse.

"I just wish he would realize how much he's actually changed."

"He will," said Hermione.

"How do you know?"

"I just do."

That didn't reassure Harry much.

Later that evening, in their room, Harry watched his roommate read. Draco's slim button nose pointed up just slightly at the end, making for a rather beautiful silhouette. The lamplight outlined his frame quite nicely.

As if Draco knew he was looking, he pricked up and turned to face Harry. "What is it?"

Harry flushed. "Nothing," he said. "Just . . . Looking at you."

Draco gently set his book down on the nightstand, smiling softly. "See something you like?"

Feeling encouraged, Harry shifted on his bed. He wanted nothing more than to walk over to Draco and kiss him senseless, but he had to respect the other man's boundaries.

"You're killing me," Harry said softly. "This is like torture."

To Harry's surprise, it was Draco who swung his legs aside and hopped off the bed, walking over to him.

"Draco?"

"Shhh." Now Draco was sitting on Harry's bed, just out of reach.

"What-"

"I wanted to thank you," he said, something else Harry wasn't expecting.

"What?"

"For today," Draco clarified. "For coming with me. I don't think I would have been able to do it if it weren't for you."

"Sure you would have," Harry said softly. "You just needed a push in the right direction."

"You don't have to lie for my sake," said Draco. "Call it what it is- you helped."

"I can only do so much," said Harry. "In the end, it was you who decided to take the step- that's what matters."

Draco sighed shakily. Harry found himself unconsciously reaching for him, wanting to gather him in his arms until that distressed look melted off his face.

"Can I touch you?" he asked quietly.

Draco nodded, shifting closer.

Harry reached for his hands, holding them softly and rubbing patterns into the skin. Draco released a breath.

"You were so brave," Harry told him. "I really am proud of you."

"I did the bare minimum," Draco said scathingly. "Sticking up for myself isn't brave."

"Yes, it is," said Harry, angry that the one he loved was so insecure.

Wait a second. What?

"Potter?" Draco asked, brows furrowing. "You look pale."

"I, erm, I . . ."

"Yes?"

"Draco, I don't . . . This isn't . . . You need to know I wasn't expecting to-"

"Potter, you're scaring me. What's going on?"

Harry gently let go of Draco's hands.

"I love you."

Draco had already heard Potter say that he could "see himself falling in love with him." But that was just a hypothetical.

This?

This was a stone-cold, in-your-face, I'm most definitely in love with you.

His mouth felt incredibly dry. He knew his eyes were widening beyond his own control. He knew too much time had passed for him to save himself.

Say something. Say anything.

"You do?"

Well, that wasn't what he'd expected to come out.

Potter emitted a choked sort of laughter, and his eyes sparkled at him. Draco's heart did a double take.

"Yes. I think I have for a while."

Draco was floundering now- he felt as though he couldn't get enough air, that he was a baby who had just been tossed in a lake. "I don't-"

"You don't have to say anything," Potter was quick to reassure him. "It's okay. I just . . . Wanted you to know."

"How?" Draco asked in disbelief.

Potter's eyes crinkled in amusement. He chuckled. "How?"

"I mean-" Draco gestured to himself. "Have you seen me?"

"Exactly," said Potter. "Have you seen you?"

Draco felt himself begin to flush. Potter was being too nice to him. There was simply no way this was true. Then a thought occurred to him. A terrible, formidable thought.

What if he was faking this?

Potter must have instantly noticed Draco tense up, for he frowned and reached for him again.

"Draco? What's wrong?"

"How can you love me?" The words came out far more timid than he would have liked.

Potter's jaw went slack.

"What? I'm sorry, what?"

"I mean . . . If this is . . . If you're trying to . . . Potter, if this is some kind of elaborate prank, then now's the time to tell me. This is humiliating enough."

Potter looked stricken. "Draco . . ."

"I understand I was sort of a dick in the past, but I feel like I've made amends for my wrongs, to some degree. Not that I can ever fully amend the horrible things I did, but-"

"Draco, please listen. I would never do something like that to someone, least of all you."

"What brought this on?" he asked suspiciously.

"Nothing brought this on," Potter said, looking upset. "It just occurred to me, and I wanted to share since it does sort of concern you."

Draco did not appreciate Potter's sarcasm, however gentle and good-natured.

"How do I know you're not doing all this to get back at me for the last seven years?"

Potter shook his head so fast Draco was sure he had to be dizzy. "No, no, no, please don't say that, because it isn't true. Please don't tell me you think that. I know I haven't exactly earned your trust, but I hope I've shown you at least a little bit that I want to make amends with you. You're deserving and worthy of love just as much as anybody else is, in my opinion maybe a little more."

Draco didn't know what to do with himself. This was what he'd wanted, wasn't it? So why was he so terrified?

"Hey." Potter grasped Draco's hands again, bringing his knuckles to his lips and closing his eyes. Draco shuddered.

When Potter looked at him again, he pressed a soft kiss to Draco's knuckle. "I love you so much," he murmured against the skin. "And I was so stupid to have hurt you like that. Why do you put up with me?"

"I guess I'm cursed to only see the good in you," Draco joked.

Potter looked up at him. "I promise, Draco, I will not hurt you again."

Draco nodded. "Alright."

"No, really." Potter pressed another kiss on his knuckles, tickling him with his stubble. "If you let me be yours, I promise I'll take care of you. Nothing will happen to you, not as long as I'm around."

"You can't always be around to save me," Draco said.

Potter gently lowered Draco's knuckles, interlacing their hands. "No, but I can try."

"So you love me," Draco said, slightly in awe. "I'm . . . I don't know what to say besides I love you, too."

Potter smiled, and all of a sudden Draco was struck by the realization that he no longer wanted to use his surname.

"I love you, Harry."

Harry brightened like the sun. "You said my name."

Draco smiled.

"You really mean it?" he pressed. "You love me? Not just the idea of me, or being the hero?"

"You know I can't put up with all that," Draco said with a chuckle. "I can't stand the way half this school fawns over you. It's disgusting."

Harry laughed heartily. "You fawn over me, though."

Draco whacked him on the arm. "Don't push your luck."

"You mean to tell me, you already took care of it?"

Harry and Draco were sitting in McGonagall's office three days later, after they'd been summoned. McGonagall wore a smirk.

"They both have been expelled."

"You found the weapon?" Draco asked.

McGonagall nodded. "They had an entire cover story, and they even told me to ask their friends where they were that evening, too, that their friends could back them up. Then I showed them this." She revealed the knife, which had been cleaned, but the sight of it still made Draco's blood go cold.

"That knocked them down a peg or two."

"Mrs. McGonagall," Harry said, "thank you."

"I couldn't very well rest with my school being in danger like that," said McGonagall. "So I dealt with things swiftly."

Draco nodded, releasing a shuddering breath, willing himself not to freak out about the knife. He was safe here, everything was okay, his perpetrators had gotten expelled. He was going to be fine.

"Draco?" Harry asked. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Draco answered. "I just . . . Thank you, Mrs. McGonagall. Thank you so much."

"Mr. Malfoy, it's my job," said McGonagall.

Draco nodded. "Of course. I just . . ." It's still me. "Really appreciate it, that's all."

McGonagall smiled at them. "Naturally."

Draco took another calming breath. He was alright now. He was safe. People had his back. He was going to be fine.

He and Harry could hardly keep their hands to themselves on the walk back to their room. Something had shifted between them, ever since the night Harry confessed his love. That night, they had talked for a while, snogged on Harry's bed, and fallen asleep in each other's arms. Nothing sexual had occurred; Harry had made it very clear that he wasn't going to touch Draco again until Draco was ready.

Now, as Draco kept chancing furtive glances at Harry on their way back, Draco wasn't so sure he could hold up his end of the bargain.

When they got back to the room, Harry took one look at him and had him pinned up against the wall, kicking the door shut and latching his lips onto his. Draco moaned unabashedly into the kiss, feeling himself relax in Harry's strong, sure grip. His hands had traveled down Draco's sides until they curled around his hipbone, easing him closer. Draco's hands were in his hair, and for how messy it appeared it was so incredibly soft.

Harry pulled away from him moments later, flushed and panting. Draco thought he had never looked more beautiful.

"Draco . . ." He looked like he was at war with himself, and Draco wanted to assure him that it was okay, he was ready, and the excitement of Eric and Blaine's expulsion thrummed through his veins. He hoped it thrummed through Harry's, too.

"Harry," he said quickly after, "it's okay. I want this."

"I don't want to-"

"Shhh. You're not taking advantage. I want you. Don't make me beg."

Harry looked like he wanted to argue, but Draco continued, "Things are different now. You said you love me."

Harry smiled, leaning in to peck his lips. "I do," he said.

"Then," Draco said, reaching for Harry and pulling him in so that their noses brushed, "show me."

Harry's lips crashed onto his then, and he kissed him lustfully, powerfully, almost sweeping Draco off his feet. When Harry's lips traveled down his jaw and towards his neck, Draco hummed and nodded in approval. Harry left a trail of wet, hot kisses down his neck, across his collarbones, stopping just before his chest.

"Bed," he growled, already beginning to pull Draco along.

AN: Sorry kiddos, you know what's up. If you wanna read all the delicious smut I had to cut out of this chapter, go to my ao3. Username's the same

"My wand," he said, reaching for the nightstand. "Could you pass me my wand?"

Harry handed it to him, and Draco spelled them clean. Harry flopped down beside him, catching his breath. Draco curled into his chest, rubbing circles on the skin. In response, Harry wrapped an arm around him and pulled him closer. Draco sighed.

"That was amazing," Harry said. "That was . . . There are no words to describe that."

Draco smiled.

"So I take it was worth the wait?"

Harry, if possible, smiled even wider. "Absolutely."

Harry and Draco had fallen asleep together again, and this time it was Harry who woke up first. He took a good, long look at the sleeping Draco.

If possible, the boy looked even more innocent, face of utter relaxation and years of warfare instantly erased. His chest rose and fell softly, and Harry resisted the urge to bury his nose in his soft hair and kiss, lest he wake him up.

However, before long Draco began to stir on his own, so Harry decided he'd give him something nice to wake up to.

He deposited a series of kisses all over Draco's face, and Draco giggled sleepily.

"Harry, stop that."

"I dunno if I can. You're just too adorable."

Draco's eyes fluttered open, crinkling in amusement. "Shut up."

Harry laughed. "Nice try. I still think you're gorgeous."

Draco smiled. Then he reached for his wand, casting a quick Tempus.

"Harry, breakfast is almost over. We're going to be late for Transfigurations."

"I'd rather skip class and lay here with you."

"Don't be such a sap. You may be able to get away with such things but the professors will use any excuse they can to punish me."

Harry frowned. "It isn't fair. You . . . You've paid for what you've done. And you've been acquitted."

"I never thanked you for that," Draco said. "You saved me and my mother."

"I owed her," said Harry.

Draco frowned. "You . . ."

"At the battle, Voldemort had her examine me to see if I was still alive after he hit me with the killing curse. She asked me about you."

Draco's eyes widened.

"W-What did she say?"

"She asked me if you were still alive, if you were in the castle. She was so worried about you. She saved us all. She bought me the time I needed."

"So she lied to Voldemort's face."

"Yes."

"Oh, god . . ." Draco paled. "She could have died."

"But she risked it. Because she loves you. More than anything." Harry's heart ached. He would never experience the true love of a mother like that.

With the Weasleys, it was pretty damn close. But the love Narcissa had for Draco, similarly to his own mother's love for him when he was a baby, transcended the power of the darkest sorcerer in the world.

"I need to write to her right now," Draco said, sitting up. "I need to-"

"We need to get dressed for class, is what we need to do," Harry said, reaching for his hand. "You can write to her later."

Draco sighed, surrendering. "Alright."

As they got dressed for the day, something occurred to Harry.

"Draco?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you, erm . . . How . . . I know our friends already know about us, but how do you feel about the rest of the school? Are you ready for that? Because we can keep things under wraps for as long as you feel comfortable."

Draco nodded. "I'm not ashamed of you, Harry. Quite the opposite. I just . . . I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want people to hate you. I don't think I'm ready to show them yet."

Harry felt a little hurt, but he supposed he could understand where Draco was coming from. "Okay," he said.

Draco frowned. "Is that a problem?"

"No," Harry answered truthfully. "It's just . . . I thought after everything, people's opinions didn't matter much to you anymore. Merlin knows they don't matter to me."

"It's not that I give a damn what they think," said Draco. "I just don't want them to do anything to hurt you."

"They can't do shit," said Harry. "The worst that can happen is they'll point and judge, but who cares?"

"I'm sorry," Draco said, voice small. "I'm just not ready yet."

"I respect that," said Harry. "We can wait for as long as you like."

Draco looked uncertain. "Are you sure?"

Harry nodded, pulling his hand to his mouth and leaving a kiss on the skin. Draco blushed.

"Okay."

Later that day, Harry was approached in the library by a boy he didn't recognize. Said boy didn't look too happy with him.

"Hi, Harry."

Harry frowned. "Can I help you?"

"No, you can't help me," the boy sneered. "Thanks to you, my friends are expelled."

Harry realized: this was Draco's third attacker. Instantly, his hands tightened into fists.

"You have some nerve approaching me," he said, none too kindly. The boy flinched the smallest amount.

"You really think I give a damn that your friends got expelled? They stabbed Draco."

The boy scoffed. "Draco? Seriously?"

Harry had had enough. "Get the fuck away from me before I fucking deck you."

The boy seemed to know what was good for him and scrambled off. Only once he was gone did Harry remember that he should have asked for his name, so that McGonagall could have expelled him, too.

"Fuck," Harry muttered bitterly. He had to warn Draco that someone else was still out to get him.