Harry knocked on Hagrid's door with some trepidation. The week before, Hermione had led them to Hagrid's Hut and demanded that he return to teaching. Hagrid had taken the week off in response to Rita Skeeter's article claiming he was a half giant. Dumbledore had the same idea, and the improvised meeting ended with Hagrid agreeing to go back to work. Right before they left, Hagrid asked Harry to come back the next weekend, as he had something he wanted to talk to him about.
Hagrid answered the door with his typical, "Harry!" served him rock cakes as usual, asked him about his week, as normal. What was strange was his eyes kept shifting, he shifted constantly, and he rang his hands.
When Harry finally asked him what was wrong, Hagrid heaved a great sigh and looked at Harry with his beetle black eyes. "I don' wan' ter tell yeh how to live yer life, Harry, but there's summat I bin meanin' ter talk to you abou'. I didn' think you and Malfoy were friends anymore." Harry stared at him, horror rising up within him like a snake.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked, trying to sort through memories to figure out what had tipped him off.
"A couple mont's ago, you an' Malfoy were sittin' at the same table at the Three Broomsticks. We'e all been so caugh' up in this tournament, haven' gotten a chance ter talk to yeh. I been thinkin' about it though. Here now, I jus'—"
"We're not friends!" Harry cried out, thinking quickly. He remembered the day clearly, he and Draco had been on a date, with him under the invisibility cloak when Moody and Hagrid had come by and told Harry to meet him, Hagrid, by his cabin to tell him about the dragons for the first task. He hadn't considered the ramifications of Hagrid knowing they were at the same table. Hagrid had assumed they were friends, and Hagrid had the loosest lips of anyone he had ever met. It was time to lie his arse off. He would feel bad about it later.
"See, Malfoy and I made a bet that he couldn't go three hours without making fun of someone, so I had to tail him to make sure he did it. There was no one else around, because neither of us wanted to be seen together, and make the assumption that you just did. Heads would roll! And both of our reputations would take a hit. He lost, by the way, I won. Still haven't decided what I'm going to make him do for me, got any suggestions?" There. He did it. He had saved Draco.
Hagrid looked surprised and relieved. "Pro'ably not bes' ter go 'round makin' bets, Harry." He chided, then chuckled. "Wha' if you made him go ter class naked?"
Harry choked. If he had been drinking something, he would have spit it out. He laughed uproariously, "Hagrid!" As if he would want other people looking at Draco. "Don't you think that's a bit extreme?"
Hagrid shrugged, then suggested making him walk a couple meters into the forbidden forest. He remembered how scared Draco had been his first year, and Harry realized Hagrid was ruthless. They spent the rest of the time he was there coming up with various ways to torture Draco. Harry had to admit he enjoyed himself.
Harry didn't realize it was Valentine's day until he arrived in the Great Hall to see it decorated with pink hearts. It wasn't nearly as bad as two years previous, but it still sent a spasm of dread up his spine. He had completely forgotten the holiday, and he had a boyfriend who was probably expecting something. Not daring to look over to the Slytherin table, he wiped off flower petals from the seat at Gryffindor table before sitting down.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked, astute as ever.
"Nothing," Harry said, "just forgot it was Valentine's is all."
"How could you forget? And why is that bad?"
Harry shrugged. "Just a reminder of how bad Lockhart's was." He was getting much better at the lies and deceit, and he was simultaneously proud and abashed at that.
Their reactions were exactly as Harry had thought they would be. Ron started laughing uproariously and Hermione blushed and dropped her speculative expression.
Draco and Harry usually met up on Sundays anyway, so Harry spent the day tearing through his trunk trying to find a gift or something he could do for Draco, only to come up empty. He had a usual public fight with "Malfoy," at lunch, and wondered if that would be foreshadowing for later that day. He ended up bribing a seventh year who got both chocolates and flowers for his girlfriend to give him the chocolates.
Feeling much better about himself, he dismissed any guilt he felt over not doing anything for the second task and made his way to their room.
Upon entering, he stopped and gaped. It was decorated very similarly to how it was after the Yule Ball, only instead of icicles, there were roses and rose petals all over the room. The candles and jars had made a reappearance, and Harry wondered where Draco put them when not in use. He quickly shook that thought out of his head, however, when he saw Draco. He was standing in the middle of the room, wearing robes fashioned to look like a muggle tux, holding a single red rose, and wearing an expression of confidence. He looked good enough to eat, and Harry suddenly felt like doing just that.
He moved forward not paying any attention to his surroundings, only one goal in mind as he grabbed Draco and smashed their lips together. Draco responded eagerly, and they spent several long minutes happily sliding their lips together.
Draco was smirking when he pulled back. Not the mean one, but the confident one that showed he was particularly proud of himself. "Now we have that out of the way," he drawled, and Harry snorted, "happy Valentine's Day, my valentine. I love you."
"Happy Valentine's Day, Baby, I love you, too." Draco rolled his eyes at the name but leaned forward to kiss Harry again.
Harry glanced down at the unwrapped box of chocolates in his hand. They were nice Honeydukes quality, but Harry felt like they were woefully inadequate now. "Are those for me?" Draco asked, and bless him, he was happy. "I love these chocolates; how did you know?" He pulled them from Harry's grasp and opened it eagerly.
"I didn't." Harry said miserably. He knew Draco loved sweets and chocolate but not that brand. He burned it into his memory. "I'm so sorry, Draco. I completely forgot that Valentine's was even in February. This is all so lovely, you obviously went to so much trouble for me, and I got those chocolates off a bloke in Gryffindor. You deserve so much better than me and—" Draco had placed his finger on Harry's lips and shushed him. He put the rose and chocolates on the chair behind him.
"Harry, calm down." He hadn't realized his breathing had picked up, but Draco waited until he was mostly calm again. "Harry, you have been so stressed about everything I didn't want to add anything on. I knew you'd probably forget, but I didn't want you worrying about anything but the second task. If I knew you were going to react like this, I would have brought it up. Now, calm down."
Harry still felt terrible. "I still should have—"
"No, you shouldn't've. Look, this year is my turn to woo you, you can have next year and make it up to me, alright?"
That was better. Draco always had some way for making Harry feel better. Harry was going to knock Draco's socks off next year, he had plenty of time to plan something spectacular.
Draco led Harry over to where he had set up a table and chairs. There was a nice white table cloth, three long lit candles, and silver plates with steaming steaks and roast vegetables on them. "This looks fantastic," Harry said as he sat down. Draco had pulled out his chair for him, ever the perfect gentleman.
"I'm glad. I hope you like it. How was your day?"
"Other than our rather public fight of the week? Pretty good. Honestly, I spent a lot of the day trying to come up with something to do for you."
Draco laughed. He had slid over a present as soon as their plates were clear. It was a simple silver bracelet.
"It's gorgeous," Harry said as he slipped it on his wrist. "I'm never taking it off."
"Well that sounds gross. Take it off to sleep and shower at least."
"Not happening. I can't believe I didn't get you anything. I'm going to—"
"Do nothing. I actually got myself something in your name." He slid an identically wrapped present over to Harry, who, feeling silly, slid it back. Draco made a show of being surprised.
"Oh, my goodness, you shouldn't have!" He simpered.
"Shut up and open it, you git." Draco laughed again as he tore the paper. It was the same silver bracelet.
"I hope you don't mind, but I liked the design." He said as he slipped it onto his own wrist.
"No, I don't mind," Harry said, reaching out his right hand to grasp Draco's. "Now we're matching. I sort of like that."
"I do too."
"But what if someone makes the connection that we're wearing matching friendship bracelets?"
Draco shook his head. "There's a charm on both of them. If someone looks at your wrist, their eyes will just slide past it, not noticing anything. Same on mine. No one will know anything."
"You always think of everything."
They got up soon after that to start dancing. The little radio played slow songs the whole night and Harry spent a moment wondering if it was somehow Draco's doing before deciding it worked in his favor, so he didn't care. They kissed for a while standing, then moved over to the cushions. Nothing happened beyond kissing lightly, it never got too heavy. There was just something so sweet and romantic in the air, it called for long and loving.
Harry missed curfew by several minutes and was berated by Hermione. It was worth it.
"What did I tell you?" Draco asked after the second task. "First place! Harry, you are going to win this thing, I know it!" Harry had indeed come in first place. Draco had figured out a potion that allowed him to not have to breathe in until an antidote was taken. Draco had also pointed out that because of the word 'sore' in the song, it implied it would be a living thing being taken. Harry was horrified, but Draco had pointed out that there would be safety lines drawn up, and they wouldn't just let people die if they failed.
Harry had listened, he had, but when he saw Fleur panicking on the shore, he dove back down to save her little sister, leaving Ron to swim back. He passed Cedric and Krum on the way and was therefore the last one officially back, but the judges decided to award him as if he was first due to Ron making it back before any of the other hostages, as well as his high morality for going back to get Gabrielle.
"What's my reward?" Harry asked as he leaned forward in his armchair in their room. Draco leaned forward as well.
"Besides being in first place? What would you like?" Harry hummed thoughtfully.
"I have a couple ideas," Harry said, inching forward until their lips were inches apart.
"I'm interested in hearing all your ideas and opinions," Draco murmured, just before their lips met.
Harry went to sit sideways in Draco's lap. He wrapped his fingers through Draco's blonde hair. He pulled him as close as they could get in this position but for once, it wasn't enough.
Draco let out a moan, and Harry found it so delicious he wanted another one. So, he went for the jugular, literally. He kissed and licked, cataloging each and every gasp and moan. His neck started to hurt at some point and pulled Draco forward, aiming for the cushion pit in front of the chairs. He wanted more. What would it be like to feel them together?
Draco leaned to the left, but Harry grasped his robes at his waist and moved him where he wanted him, which was directly on top of him. Draco relented after a brief moment, making sure it was what Harry really wanted. They both groaned as the full weight of Draco came upon him.
Draco waited for Harry to squirm, indicating he wanted Draco to get off, or stay tensed, indicating he wanted a hug. Instead, he relaxed into the cushions and moved his head up and down, nuzzling his ear against Draco's lips.
Draco gasped, and Harry let out a breath in return. Draco blew air against his ear again and Harry let out a strangled moan, suddenly bucking. His crotch rubbed against Draco's and it was the most wonderful thing Draco had ever felt. He lost himself in the feeling and ground himself down into Harry, groaning in his ear.
Harry felt the moment Draco let go and couldn't help but tense in response. He felt the typical panic whenever he felt Draco's hardened outline but tried to remember that this was a perfectly natural, healthy thing that was happening. He let Draco continue for several seconds before he experimentally moved his hips out towards Draco.
Draco gasped breathlessly and moaned as he attached his mouth to Harry's neck. He sucked hard several times, gaining some slight perspective and restraint and returned to Harry's ear. "Tell me this—ugh—yes—is ok?"
Harry panted- when had that started- and whispered, "yes—I like this—yes." His own grinding hips rubbed his own hardening length into the couch and feeling Draco against him was so pleasurable.
He arched his back, seeking Draco's lips, and found them attacking his. They kissed hungrily for several long moments, gyrating their hips. Harry pulled back, trying to catch his breath, and his eyes met Draco's. The tone changed then, from hot and heavy to warm and gentle. Harry felt his breath deepen as he looked into Draco's deep silver eyes. They were so expressive; serious but hopeful, desperate and patient, curious but confident. Harry brought his arms up to wrap around Draco's neck, pulling gently down.
Are you sure, Draco asked with his eyes. Yes, Harry answered, still pulling gently downwards. Draco swallowed, keeping his eyes on Harry's as he slowly started moving up and down, their hardened lengths rubbing together.
Nothing had ever felt as good as this felt. His skin was on fire and his insides were ready to erupt. Draco moved his hips forward rubbing gently in question and Harry returned with his own thrusts. They steadily built up a rhythm as they gasped and groaned and gyrated on each other. Their chests then lips met as Draco laid his full weight on Harry. Harry moaned into Draco's mouth feeling his entire long thin length all up and down him.
He moved his legs up and wrapped them around Draco's waist. This changed the angle they were thrusting in and it felt like they were suddenly deeper.
"Harry!" Draco cried into Harry's mouth. They were both panting heavily, gasping in between sweet little kisses. Harry placed his hands on both of Draco's cheeks and pulled until Draco's forehead was rested against his. They bumped heads slightly until their thrusting adjusted. Harry's heart was beating so fast it was almost continuous. Bump bump. Bump bump. Bump bump.
"Draco!" Harry moaned. "It feels…oh, so good." His every nerve was on fire, lit alive. They met in yet another kiss, open mouthed so they could breathe.
"So good," Draco agreed between several small, fast kisses. Harry could feel a familiar pressure near his privates, gaining weight the longer they danced together.
"Ughn," Harry warned Draco, wanting it to last but so desperately close to that decadence he just knew they would feel together. Draco moaned in excitement, questioning Harry through a kiss. They traded moans that got higher and higher as they wrapped their arms around each other, pulling the other as close as they could possibly be (while clothed). Finally, their cries met in a crescendo that matched their bodies.
They lay there panting, arms wrapped loosely around each other, and Draco scooted down slightly so that he could lay his head on Harry's chest near his shoulder, forehead pressed up against Harry's neck. Harry let himself come down slowly. He felt like he was lighter than air, floating up in the clouds. He didn't have a single care in the world.
He came to slowly, realizing that he was still under Draco, and his arm had fallen asleep, same as the rest of him. He shook his head slightly, rubbing his eyes and yawning lightly. He felt better than he ever had, other than the slight sticky situation he had occurring in his nether land.
Draco gave out a groaning sigh and sat his head up to look at Harry. "Hi." He said quietly, a large, indulgent smile on his face. Harry grinned in return, happy, sated and relaxed.
"Hi." He agreed, not entirely sure what to say not, not entirely sure he wanted to say anything.
"Harry?" Harry hummed, and Draco continued. "I just wanted to make sure. Are you ok? … After that?"
Harry hummed again, thinking. He felt ok. He wasn't panicked or scared, and he actually felt more relaxed than he had been earlier. "Yeah. I really am. I don't know what it was, I felt panicked a little at the beginning, but the more we did it, the better I felt. Maybe this means I'm over it."
Draco hummed as well. "Maybe. Just remember, what I said about going slow and making sure you're comfortable will always apply." Harry felt himself melt in response to that. Draco was so good about caring for him. He felt around for a moment before he found Draco's hand and grasped it firmly. Draco squeezed back.
When their breathing calmed, Harry felt like it wouldn't be blasphemous to talk. "What time is it?"
"After dinner. Damn. Wanna go to the kitchens?"
"Sure." Neither got up or moved much. Draco waved his wand and Harry felt the stickiness disappear, replaced by a nice clean feeling. Harry ran his hand up and down Draco's back, caressing softly.
After a while, muscles became a little sore, because they weren't on a bed just assembled couch cushions and pillows. Harry was certain they had shifted during their activities.
As they were getting up and sorting themselves out, Harry couldn't help but say, "Draco? That was really…amazing." Draco grinned and leaned over to kiss him.
With Draco under the invisibility cloak, Harry showed Draco where the kitchens were. He had expected to just grab a sandwich to go, but Dobby and his army of elves insisted on him sitting down for a hot supper. Once he revealed Draco, Dobby at least, was weary. The other elves had no qualms, however, and forced Draco to sit across from Harry.
They enjoyed their dinner, and quickly dubbed it a date that would need to be repeated. Afterwards, Harry escorted Draco back to his common room, received a kiss, and headed up to his.
Ron looked around the Great Hall and shoveled another fork-full of food into his mouth. Hermione usually bugged him not to talk around his food and for once, he was using the opportunity to do some thinking. It wasn't that he never thought, he thought all the time, despite what certain Slytherins (and brothers) thought. It was just that he enjoyed the quiet for uninterrupted contemplation. Not that it was quiet, just his friends weren't talking.
He knew he wasn't a very deep person. He was a simple man who enjoyed simple things. Food, girls, quidditch, and chess were his favorite things. He hated corned beef, maroon and Malfoy. Things were easy with him.
He looked over at Hermione above a fork of eggs. She had her nose buried in a book; nothing new there, but Ron knew it was unusual unless they were covering something new in class or she had just received a new book from owl order. He knew neither of these things applied, but just as he was wondering why she was reading today, his question was answered. She glanced up quickly, then looked back to Harry, the look she got whenever there was a puzzle to solve apparent on her face.
Ah. That had become a personal pastime of hers, spying on and contemplating Harry. He shook his head. He had almost lost Harry earlier that year because he had pushed too hard. He was still burning curious at some of the things Harry did, but he had decided that whatever it was, it wasn't worth losing Harry over. He had decided not to talk or think about whatever it was he was hiding, as insulting as it was, but this was made trickier by Hermione blatantly trying to work it out.
They had talked about it more than once. Hermione had some pretty interesting theories, and some crazy theories. He knew she hadn't told him everything, she avoided his eyes when she lied to him.
He knew Harry knew about it, Hermione was not subtle. Even as he watched, Harry looked up from his own breakfast, caught Hermione, and rolled his eyes. Hermione, who had instantly stuck the book further up her face, missed him being apparent that she was caught. It was funny, almost, how arrogant she was. Actually, it was bloody annoying. There were so many things about her he found annoying, he sometimes wondered why and how he was still friends with her.
He didn't look at Harry when he looked over at him. That would make it hard to still be in denial.
Harry sighed at his friends. They were both acting strange, but then, they had been acting strange for a while. He had been so focused on the second task that he hadn't really paid enough attention to his friends, and that was his fault. He knew they didn't mind, they had been almost as involved as he had. He wondered if it was the tournament that had them on edge?
That didn't make much sense. It didn't coincide with any of the tasks. When had it started? Well, it had gotten more intense lately, but he was thinking that they had started behaving weirder earlier this year. Maybe it was about the tournament, and they were worried about him? That didn't make a whole lot more sense. He had just won the second task, they should be becoming more confident with him.
"Did you finish the transfiguration homework, Hermione?" She had been working on it in the Common Room prior to breakfast.
All he got in response was a blushing nod before she disappeared behind her book. He knew she was giving him surreptitious looks whenever she thought he wasn't looking. She had that look on her face she got whenever she had a puzzle to solve. Was he the puzzle?
Ron had done a 180 since the beginning of the year. He was calmer, friendlier, didn't jump on him when Harry didn't want to hang out with him…
Oh.
Hermione had mentioned that Ron was jealous when they weren't speaking. Was he jealous of his friend? Of Draco, even if Ron didn't know it was him?
Boys were so much easier to understand than girls.
A month before the last task, exactly, Harry went down to the quidditch pitch to hear about the final task. It would take place in a maze on the pitch, and Harry was infuriated that they had destroyed it in the process, with all sorts of magical creatures and enchantments to hinder them from getting to the center, where the cup, and victory, lay in wait. Afterwards, Krum pulled Harry aside to ask him if he and Hermione were over. Harry tried to explain that they never were together, but before he could completely convince Krum of that, Barty Crouch stumbled up to them, raving about Voldemort and talking to a tree. Harry had gone for help, but when he got back, Crouch was gone, and Krum was stunned. They never did find Crouch.
Harry sent a letter off to Sirius detailing what had happened and got a reply the next morning. He also wrote a letter to Sirius after he had a strange dream about Voldemort in divination. Other than that, Harry's life revolved around practicing for the final task. Every opportunity he had, he was reading up on jinxes, hexes, and curses, as well as magical creatures that might be in the maze, or he was practicing new spells. He had also started running in the mornings before classes, hoping to get his stamina up.
His relationship with Draco suffered in some ways during this time. Draco seemed to think that they had no time to cuddle or snog, and instead cleared out the center of their room to make space for them to duel. One day, about a week before the task, Draco confronted Harry in public, as he did around once a week, since the ferret incident or whenever the mood struck him.
"Hey, Potter," Draco called from across the packed courtyard. "Final task is next week, and I'm taking bets to how long you'll last."
"So that's how you're getting your money. Did Daddy cut you off?" Draco growled.
"At least I have a daddy! You don't have anyone, Scarhead."
Before Harry could retort, a voice neither of them wanted to hear cut in, "Mr. Malfoy! I will not have you spouting such nonsense. Ten points from Slytherin and move it along."
Draco sneered at Harry, who growled back before moving on. There was nothing special or significant about the encounter, except it was rather short for when they stopped for each other (they sometimes had short exchanges of insults in the hallways that didn't last long) or so Harry thought.
The day of the final task, Harry woke up feeling strange. On the one hand, he knew he had prepared as much as he possibly could and felt plenty confident about his abilities. On the other hand, he was facing unknown perils against three other students that had three years of magical knowledge on him. Plus, they had all grown up in the magical world, and that experience was incalculable.
It resulted in an almost melancholy attitude for most of the morning. After breakfast, McGonagall came up to Harry and told him his family was waiting for him. Harry was confused, but when he checked, the Weasleys were there! Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as Bill had come. Harry spent a delightful day giving the grand tour and hanging out with them.
After he saw Bill and Fleur trading looks, he offered to introduce them. Bill had protested weakly while Harry ran off to grab Fleur. He was a bit surprised that Mrs. Weasley was rather sour after that, but Bill and Fleur were rather lost in each other. Maybe he was getting better at anything having to do with feelings. He had such a nice day he forgot to be scared of what he would have to do later that day.
Draco POV
Draco shuffled to his seat in between Vincent and Greg, looking around nervously, but trying to hide it. All around him people were finding their own seats excitedly, the bastards. Draco just wanted Harry to finish the damn task quickly and get back into his arms. These vultures were hoping to see some carnage.
He looked down at the maze but didn't see anything through the thick hedges. He wondered how they were expected to be excited about this when they couldn't see anything. Ah, he thought as he saw the giant screen that was slowly being spelled up over on the side. Visiomagic. He supposed this was important enough to be recorded for future generations.
It didn't take long for the task to start and Bagman to start his announcements. At the sound of a whistle, Harry entered the maze. Up on the Visiomagic screen, which had been divided into four sections for each champion, the camera followed him as he ran in.
In just a minute he came upon a fork, and the camera showed him with his spinning wand in hand before he went right. The camera shot bounced up and down as Harry ran, and zoomed over his head to focus slightly above Harry's head. He performed the spell at every fork, and before long Diggory's whistle was blown. He ran forward, and his own camera focused on him in the upper right of the screen. He also went to the right.
Meanwhile in Harry's square, he had come upon his first obstacle. It was a small pond, too wide to sneak around, too long to jump across. Harry looked back but faced forward again. He got on his hands and knees, trying to see into the dephts but presumably couldn't. He stood, thinking for less than a minute before he was casting a freezing charm on the upper part of the pond. The crowd gasped, and he moved forward, walking very carefully over the frozen water. The camera zoomed in, just as a very ugly face appeared under the ice. Draco laughed as Harry jumped and pointed at the screen and nudging Vincent with his other arm. Two dumb chortles echoed around him as the rest of the Slytherins in his section joined in. Draco and the rest had jumped too, but there was no way they were confessing that.
"Nice bit of trickery magic by Mr. Potter there," Bagman commented. Draco mostly tuned him out.
Draco was ready to strangle Harry when he realized that Diggory didn't spend nearly as much time as he should have at the pond. The idiot needed to undo the work he did so the obstacles would trip up the other contestants.
Harry's next obstacle spotted him as soon as he turned the corner. Cornish pixies came chasing after him. Harry turned and ran in the opposite direction, throwing spells over his shoulder. Then he stopped and performed a shield charm. The rest of the pixies crashed directly into it, stopping and falling unconscious immediately.
Krum's whistle had gone off when Harry was battling the pixies, and his screen came up in the lower left hand of the screen. He chose to go left at the fork.
Harry meanwhile seemed to have hit a dead end. He backtracked and went the other way instead. Diggory took a different turn than Harry had and ended up fighting some strange mist that did something to him for about five minutes before he managed to make it through.
Delacour finally entered and the maze and the final section of the screen lit up. "Took her long enough," Draco drawled for his posse. There were appreciative chuckles all around him.
"She's not even that attractive," Pansy simpered from behind Draco, for about the millionth time since she had first seen her. Draco made a face quickly before his mask slid back into place. It was necessary for the time being.
Back on the screen, Harry came to the next obstacle. It looked like a tortoise with a jewel encrusted shell, a fire crab if Draco wasn't mistaken. It reared back so it was facing away from Harry and a ball of flame shot from its rear. Harry threw himself down on the ground to avoid the fireball and rolled behind another hedge. He looked back at the crab and ducked again as a second ball came at him. Harry took a deep breath and hit a stunner directly on its bum.
The force knocked it over on its back, legs flailing in the air pathetically. Harry didn't wait for it to right itself, it was already moving back and forth, and Harry edged around it before running further.
Draco was so proud; the other three champions had all done pretty well, but they weren't passing through the trials nearly as quickly as he was. He had a hard time not smirking, but then again, that was his trademark.
All of a sudden, Fleur's camera started spinning, then went straight up, then went straight into a hedge, leaving just enough time before it went black to hear Fleur scream. The other champions stopped and looked around, weary. There were no sparks shot up, and Draco detected movement on the outer edge of the maze as several wizards entered the maze.
Harry was the last one to go back to the task at hand, and it looked like he was looking around him every couple seconds. Draco was glad if it resulted in Harry being more careful. It did, in fact, as he spotted a branch that jutted out quickly, trying to grab at him. Harry skillfully dodged it, and the rest of the hedge attacked.
Harry blasted his way a couple feet before a root managed to trip him. He hit the ground so hard flecks of dirt flew up to coat him. The branches took no time to deeply ensnare him. He crawled forward a little but couldn't break free. The crowd was on its feet, Draco included, as Harry became invisible, hidden beneath the brush.
The collective gasp from the audience paved the way for silence around the stadium. There was a beat, where Draco was seriously contemplating vaulting into the maze to save him like a bloody Gryffindor…then, a cutting curse broke through, and Harry was climbing out of the cocoon the branches made.
The crowd began applauding, Bagman was shouting, and all the noise covered up Draco's audible sigh of relief. This really was too much stress for him to deal with.
While the excitement was happening with Harry, Krum's camera acted a little funny. It zoomed past him and instead showed in front of him, with Krum completely out of sight. There was a gasp, and the camera focused on Krum for a moment, before going back to its rightful place, above and a little behind him.
A group of wizards exited the maze, carrying an unconscious Fleur Delacour hovering between them. Most of the crowd stood to get a better look.
Diggory was dealing with a centaur, who wanted to talk to him about Venus, and Diggory was too polite to tell him to stuff it. He was slowly inching away, nodding seriously, as the centaur droned on.
Harry ran into another dead end and had to back track, which took several minutes.
Meanwhile, Diggory had escaped from the centaur, and had run into Krum. Diggory smiled and asked how he was doing, and Krum sent an exploding curse that had Diggory on his back. The crowd was gasping, on their collective feet again, as the camera focused on them from different angles. Within seconds, Krum had Diggory under the cruciatus curse.
Diggory's screams echoed, and Harry stopped in his tracks. He did a double take, between the hedges behind him where Diggory's screams were coming from, and forward, where the cup was.
He backtracked. Draco caught a groan in his throat. He didn't want Harry confronting a vindictive Krum. The loveable idiot. The beautiful, wonderful idiot, who couldn't let anyone suffer if he could help it.
The camera above Harry focused to see another viewpoint of Krum and Diggory before Harry was shooting a stunner at Krum. All that could be heard throughout the stadium as Krum fell was Diggory's panting breath.
"You alright?" Harry asked as he offered a hand to Diggory.
Diggory nodded as he accepted, and Harry lifted him up. "I can't believe he wanted to win that badly."
"Didn't you see his eyes?" Harry asked as they stared down at him. "I don't think he was acting under his own power."
"You mean he was imperiused?" Diggory whispered, it was almost hard to catch. Harry nodded, and they stared down at Krum for a moment. "Send up sparks, you think?"
"I bet with those cameras they already know. But yeah, to be safe," and a second later, red sparks could be seen above the maze.
As Harry and Diggory walked, a dementor floated into an open area they were in. They both gasped and raised their wands.
"What's the incantation?" Diggory asked, white faced.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry bellowed. A silvery white stag burst from his wand, veering directly towards the dementor. It stumbled.
"Wait a second!" Harry said, "dementors don't stumble. You're a boggart! Ridiculus!" With his spell, the dementor vanished in a puff of smoke.
Diggory stared at Harry in amazement. "You can do a corporeal patronus?"
"Professor Lupin taught me last year." Diggory gaped, along with more than half the audience. Harry strutted forward, with Diggory stumbling to keep up. They walked along together until they got to a fork. Prongs trotted along besides Harry for a little way before dissipating into the air.
"I guess it'll be a Hogwarts victory, either way."
"Good luck."
"And to you."
They separated, going to different paths. Now there were only two champions, both from the same school, the other schools seemed to lose interest a bit. Hogwarts' students, however, was leaning forward in their seats, enraptured.
Harry and Diggory both moved forward at a running pace, not running into anything for a while. Then, Diggory got caught in some golden mist, while Harry battled a gigantic spider.
After defeating the spider, Diggory was still stuck in the mist. Harry was on the path to victory; the cup was in view! He raced forward, slowing the closer he got to the cup. Draco and most of the crowd were on their feet as the camera focused on Harry slowly coming forward. He looked left and right, as if certain that something would happen. The crowd waited, Harry was a hand away from the cup, the crowd held its breath, Harry's hand was on it, the crowd applauded, and Harry vanished.
It took several seconds for anyone to realize there was something wrong.
Confused mutterings could be heard around the packed stadium, was this supposed to happen?
Draco sat back down slowly, ignoring Greg, who was asking him what he thought was happening. He had a very bad feeling, deep in the pit of his stomach. All of a sudden, the screen showing the camera that was following Harry came back on, showing Harry's confused face. He had his wand out, looking around at the graves surrounding him, before the screen was replaced by black and white dots, it looked almost like snow. Draco let out a breath, half relieved half startled, at least Harry was ok. Draco looked over to where the judges were, they were all talking quietly, leaning close together. Several teachers and other adults went over to confer.
The screen kept going in and out, showing strange images. Harry was on his knees, holding his head as if in pain, then snow. Then, the camera picked up audio.
"Get rid of whatever that is." It was a high-pitched cold voice. The viewpoint was suddenly tilted, as if the camera was shot out of the air, on its side on the ground. Draco could see grave markers, and Harry tied up to one of them. He couldn't take this. He felt his stomach freeze, dread seeping into every pore in his body.
"What's Potter gotten himself into this time?" The voice came from behind him, and Draco had a hard time not turning around and throwing a hard punch directly into the nose of whoever had said that, Draco was too busy focusing on not doing that to know who it was. He needed to try to keep the mask in place, this was Harry Potter he was thinking about, he would be fine, and he wouldn't appreciate Draco throwing years of pretending down the drain because he had a weak moment.
Back on the screen, which had faded to snow, then black, showed Harry again, and there was a figure standing directly in front of him. Before Draco could see who it was, the screen cut out again. He was seriously panicking, now. Harry was in an unknown location, with who knew who, for some unknown reason, and it definitely wasn't friendly. The time had come to reveal that he did care for Harry.
He wasn't expecting this moment to come until he was eighteen and about to start the rest of his life. He was still struggling with the thought of betraying his family, and he really needed the extra time to come to terms with what he would have to do. He was a proud Malfoy, and proud to be a Malfoy, there was a difference. He had spent his entire life learning about his lineage, his family, his heritage. It meant more to him than almost anything, to him there had been nothing else in the world. Then he had met Harry.
Even just standing in the shop, he had sensed there was something special about him, something that he needed to discover about him. At eleven years old, he had realized there was more to life than what had been given to him, like what he gave back. He had always taken, never provided or contributed or offered. Harry had offered him everything else he needed in life, and it was so much more than he had ever dreamed he was missing.
He would be betraying his family, of that he had no doubt. But In a way, they had already betrayed him.
What could he do?
He could go to Dumbledore, and demand that he do something. What good would that do, however? It might end up being a distraction, the teachers were no doubt already on that. He could go up to the library, look up how to detect where a portkey went, and then figure out where Harry's went. That was the best solution he could think of, but it would definitely take too long. Maybe the best thing would be to go, and demand things be done, because he simply couldn't sit there while Harry was in danger.
He was protecting their future as Malfoy, but Harry needed Draco in the present.
Just as he stood, the hedges of the maze melted into the ground, and various wizards ran forward to capture the magical creatures and beings that were in the maze. Diggory could be seen, being led away by a wizard, his parents running up to meet him. Dumbledore and Moody went to the column the Tri-Wizard Cup had been on and began waving their wands. Good, at least something was being done, now.
Draco sat back down. "What's wrong, Draco?"
Draco hummed, trying to stall. "I'm trying to figure out what Potter's doing now."
There were laughs. "What do you care? If we're lucky we'll never see him again." More laughs. Draco felt sick. He really called these people his friends, when they would wish harm on the person he loved most? None of them knew it, but he couldn't stomach bad things being said about Harry. The conversation went on, making bets, making fun of Harry, generally being awful humans. Draco felt more and more sick the longer it went on. He had a brief epiphany moment where he realized his friendships with these people wouldn't last. They all hated Harry, whom he loved, something would have to give, and it wasn't going to be him.
Had they ever really been his friends though? What he had with them wasn't what Harry had with Granger and Weasley. None of his friends would stand up for him in a fight unless they were backed up, this he knew from experience. Whenever he wanted to do something against the school rules, he couldn't find anyone to help him. In fact, he would only get help if it benefitted them. Harry gave selflessly, and while he was an extreme example, isn't that what friends were supposed to do?
These people around him were acquaintances, classmates, associates of circumstance and contacts of potential. He didn't have anyone. Not really.
Tears pooled in his eyes, but he choked them back, there was no way he was going to become a sobbing mess right now. He needed to keep a cool head if he wanted to come out of this intact. He had Harry. That was enough for him.
It was probably unhealthy, but what could he do? These were the colleagues his Father had chosen for him, that were his chosen family while at Hogwarts. In a couple years, he would deal with it, but for now, acquaintances would have to do in the place of friends.
Abruptly, the screen showing Harry snapped back on, and Harry was there, in the middle of where the maze used to be, body clutched in his arm.
The stadium stood, and it was louder than it had been. Harry slowly sat up as he was surrounded by people and he vanished from Draco's view. The camera floated above for another minute before a wizard wearing forest green robes came forward to get it.
Draco stood again, hoping to get a better view of Harry. Harry, who was being led away by Moody. He wondered where he was being taken. He sat again, he was safe now, and as much as it killed him, he would have to wait until later to find out what had happened. Now that the danger had passed, he was sobering up. He had a cover to protect, for Harry. Harry needed him to be Malfoy.
Harry was still panting, still quite a bit out of it, as he was pushed into a chair. He had just witnessed Voldemort return. He had seen Voldemort come back to life. Voldemort had just risen from a cauldron, alive, and Harry had been there.
Moody had dragged him off just minutes after Harry had returned to the quidditch pitch with Peter Pettigrew clutched in his grasp. He had stunned and grabbed him, then summoned in the portkey cup.
Harry jumped as Moody slapped him across the face. He touched his cheek in bewilderment. "You were panicking, Potter. Now pay attention, how did the Dark Lord treat his followers?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did he punish them? Did he torture them? Make them pay for abandoning him?"
"Wha'…no. Well yes, he put a couple under the cruciatus, but he said he forgave them."
Moody growled. "He forgave them? All of them? Even that sniveling bastard, Malfoy?"
"How did you know Malfoy was there? Why do you care?"
"Malfoy was the Dark Lord's right-hand man. But he doesn't deserve it. Especially when he has a son that's consorting with the enemy."
Harry suddenly realized Moody had his wand out, pointing at him, and he felt the sense of dread that he had been experiencing settle in his stomach.
"You're a Death Eater."
"Not just any Death Eater, Potter. His most loyal servant, and I shall replace Malfoy in the ranks when he finds out about you and his son." Moody started laughing, slightly hysterically, just as the door banged open.
"It's just me," Draco whispered from under the cloak. Harry nodded, and Draco removed his hand from Harry's mouth. It was late, well after curfew, and Harry was in his hospital bed. It was later, after he had been rescued from Moody by Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape. After he had been led to Dumbledore's office, gone to the hospital wing, and told the Weasleys that Voldemort had returned. After the first time he had woken up to find the Minister yelling. Sirius had been following him since they had met up in Dumbledore's office. He was now at the foot of Harry's bed in dog form, and Draco had very cautiously woken Harry.
"What are you doing here," Harry whispered, barely audible.
"I had to see you, make sure you were ok."
Harry hummed, and pulled Draco to him in a hug. "I'm ok, now." He whispered in Draco's ear, who shivered.
They stood there, slowly swaying and comforting each other. Then, there was a loud bark.
Harry swung around. "Sirius, shut up!" Harry hissed, his eye going to Madam Pomfrey's door.
Sirius stopped, tilting his doggy head, his eyes going back and forth between Draco and Harry. Harry sighed, unsure what to do. He turned to Draco, trying to express hopefulness in his eyes. Sirius wouldn't tell anyone, he knew he wouldn't.
Draco bit his lip, looking between Harry and the dog form of Sirius. Slowly, he nodded to Harry. Harry let out a breath of air, he was finally going to be able to tell someone he really cared about, about Draco. Eagerly, he turned to Sirius, moving over so Draco could sit next to him at the head of the bed.
"Sirius, you can transform. Draco already knows about you." Sirius gave him a stunned look, before standing and indeed transforming. He sat on the bed slowly, now in human form. He stared at Draco.
"I thought only Ron and Hermione knew about me." He said cautiously.
"I told Draco too." Harry said, wishing he could take Draco's hand, but not sure he should give Sirius too much information. Maybe he could wait and see if he said anything about Draco to anyone before telling Sirius they were together.
"Draco? As in the Malfoy boy? Harry…can I speak to you, alone?"
"Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Draco." He put a hand on Draco's shoulder. "We've been friends since before our first year, Sirius. His father doesn't want me being friends with him, so we pretend we're not, in public. When we're away from the other students, who would gossip, and news would get back to Mr. Malfoy, we're friends. I haven't told anyone, except this girl I took to the Yule Ball, but she hasn't said anything. Oh, and Madam Pomfrey caught us once, but she said she wouldn't say anything either. Please don't tell anyone. Draco's my best friend. I don't want to lose him."
Sirius continued staring. Harry and Draco traded nervous looks. Finally, Sirius spoke. "Harry, I don't want to judge prematurely, but this young man comes from a very dark family. His father is a Death Eater, as I know you know. If you say that he's good, I'll believe you, but are you absolutely sure?"
Harry nodded. "I think I know Draco better than anyone, Sirius. He acts like an arse to me in public, because he has to, he's nice to me. He's really nice; he treats me better than anyone ever has. He is kind, brilliant and gentle, and really funny. I would trust him with my life."
Sirius looked at him very seriously. "Alright Harry." He stuck his hand out to Draco. "Any friend of Harry's is alright in my book. Nice to meet you, Draco."
"Charmed to meet you as well, sir."
"Oh, none of that," Sirius let out a startled laugh. "Call me Sirius, or Snuffles, in dog form."
"Alright then." Draco nodded. Harry looked at him, considering. He really wanted to see if Sirius was ok with them being together, as well. He still couldn't make up his mind, however. He was a little afraid of Sirius being homophobic, and a boy being with his godson might tip the edge of the scale, and forbid Harry from Draco, or ensure that Lucius found out about them. That would be cruel, and Harry couldn't see Sirius reacting like that, but Harry couldn't shake the fear.
"Harry?" Both Sirius and Draco were looking at him.
"Huh?"
"God Harry, sometimes you drive me mad. I asked what happened, when you disappeared earlier." Sirius growled lowly, but Harry and Draco ignored him.
Harry tensed. "Draco, I saw Voldemort. He came back, he has a body now."
Draco went pale, paler than Harry had ever seen him. "No," he whispered.
"Peter Pettigrew was there. I brought him back. Dumbledore thinks there might be a serious chance that Sirius will get off." Draco looked to Sirius, who was smiling happily. "But Draco, he called his followers, and your father was there." Draco closed his eyes, and just as slowly lowered his head. Harry leaned forward and pulled him into a hug.
"What else happened?" Draco asked, still holding Harry, several minutes later.
"I dueled him. The wands did something strange, I think Dumbledore called it 'prior incantatem'. I saw my parents." Harry paused, choked up, and Draco squeezed, moving them back and forth in a gentle sway.
Harry took a deep breath. "They told me to get the cup, and they distracted Voldemort while I got away. But I grabbed Pettigrew before I left and summoned the cup to me, so I brought him back with me. Then, Moody dragged me off. It turns out he was Barty Crouch Jr. He tried to do me in, but Dumbledore came and stunned him." Draco felt guilt at that. Maybe if he had followed Harry, he wouldn't have gotten hurt. "He was the one that put my name in the Goblet of Fire, he's been making moves all year trying to make sure I won this tournament, to get me to that graveyard. Voldemort wanted to use my blood in a ritual that brought him back, and now he's stronger than ever. The protection my mother gave me when she died is useless now."
"Dumbledore thinks having Pettigrew might be enough for my freedom." Sirius began, in a low voice to cover the silence. "He says not to get my hopes up, especially considering Crouch Jr. got kissed this afternoon. Luckily McGonagall was able to prevent Pettigrew from the same fate, or we'd be having a different conversation. Understandably, Dumbledore has a lot to deal with, Voldemort's return and all that. He says he might be able to get me a court date soon."
"I still don't understand how they wouldn't find you innocent with Pettigrew." Harry directed to Sirius.
"I don't either, Pup. I'm sure everything will be ok, let's not worry about that, now."
Harry returned to his story. "Things got complicated with Fudge, he came in while I was sleeping, earlier. He doesn't want to believe that Voldemort's back. He thinks that Crouch Jr. and Pettigrew were working together, and they kidnapped me, and he's willing to believe there was a Death Eater meeting, but he's not willing to say that Voldemort's back, despite the evidence."
"That's ridiculous! How are people supposed to defend themselves if they don't know he's back? This is bad, Harry, Fudge has a lot of power, he can make people do things, say what he wants. I'm afraid of what will happen if he doesn't come out and tell the truth."
They held each other for a long time. "Are you sure there's nothing more than friendship between the two of you?" Sirius asked lowly, an unreadable expression on his face. Harry and Draco exchanged a startled look, each trying to get permission.
"Er…" Harry said, intelligently.
Sirius smiled. "Because if there is, that's great! I'm glad my godson has someone special like that. So?"
Harry smiled, relieved. "We're together. Have been for over a year." Sirius laughed again.
"Harry, you sly dog! Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry. I just wasn't sure how you'd react."
"Ah, I don't care who you're with, as long as they make you happy. Besides, it'd be pretty hypocritical. I had a couple boyfriends in my life."
"You did? I didn't know you were gay!" Harry felt kinship with his godfather swell. He could use the distraction, and he was sure Draco could too. He hadn't met any males interested in other males other than Draco.
"Sure. But I'm not gay, I'm bi."
"So am I!" Harry exclaimed.
"Well I'm gay, for the record." Draco drawled, sitting back, his eyes shining bright, taking Harry's hand.
"When did you figure it out?" Sirius asked, leaning forward and grinning.
"I guess earlier this year I knew for sure. Draco got me this book that explained the different sexualities, and I figured that was it 'cause I've had crushes on both boys and girls before. I just didn't know it was normal."
"I think I've always known. Father kept trying to set me up with girls, but I wasn't interested in a single one. When I started crushing on Harry, it was pretty undeniable."
Sirius laughed. "For me, it was the same. I was a bit of a free spirit as a teenager, didn't stay with anyone for too long. Except…" He shook his head. "Anyway, if you've been together a year and you're still happy, you're doing something right. If either of you feel like you need to talk to someone other than each other, feel free to write to me. I know how complicated relationships can get, and it can't be easy having a secret relationship. How does that work anyway?"
"Thank you, Sirius." Draco smiled. "We found this room second year, an abandoned classroom in the dungeons. We cast some spells to keep people away, and we meet up at least once a week. We also send letters to each other. Our friends all know we have a pen pal, and we just use fake names. If we see each other in the halls, we'll trade insults, but I find that rather entertaining." He turned to Harry, who grinned.
"Yeah, it's become fun to figure out creative names for each other. We're going to run out soon, and I'm not sure what we'll do then."
"We'll probably just start throwing things at each other."
"Or walk in complete silence."
"Or use blanks. Go blank yourself you blank blank."
"Oh god, we'll have to switch to compliments."
"Then we might as well come out and start kissing when we see each other."
They were both laughing. "Can you imagine the reactions?"
"I can't wait." They fell over they were laughing so hard.
Sirius shushed them, looking to Pomfrey's door. They put a hand on the other's mouth, shushing each other through their fingers and giggling. Sirius smiled again as he watched them. He checked his watch.
"It's getting late, chaps. As much as I'm enjoying this, I think it's about time to say goodnight." He stood and went off to cast a spell on the door.
Harry turned to Draco. "I wish you could stay." The distraction had worked as intended and Harry felt a lot better, but he was still terrified, and he didn't want to sleep. Having Sirius close by was helping, but the time he and Draco had fallen asleep together, he had never slept better.
Draco considered him. "How would you feel about me staying?"
Harry blinked. "What if someone comes in?"
"I'll stay under the cloak and set an alarm for early. No one will ever know I'm here, other than your godfather."
"I don't know, Baby, it's a big risk."
Draco scowled, presumably at the name. "All I care about is what you want. I had a difficult time today, and all I want to do is hold you. If you don't want to, that's fine, but if I'm your only reason not to, then let me."
Harry cocked his head and cupped one of Draco's cheeks. "Ok. Stay with me?"
Draco nodded.
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea," Sirius said, awkwardly stepping from behind the curtain. He scratched his head.
Harry blushed, he knew that it wasn't normal for a couple to sleep together, literally, in the hospital wing, but he really wanted Draco. "Please, Sirius. I really need him to stay."
"You need him to, huh?" Sirius asked doubtfully.
"Sirius, I promise nothing untoward will happen. We just want to be near each other. After the day we had? Please?"
"So, you will sleep in the next bed over then?"
Harry blinked. "That wouldn't make any sense. If someone came in, they'd see an invisible person under the covers, if he's with me, it won't be as obvious."
"I cast a spell that's going to warn me if someone comes in."
"So, what's the problem?" Sirius's eyes narrowed. He was silent for a minute.
"Alright. I'll close the curtains and bark if someone comes over here. No funny business, I'll be right outside on the ground."
Harry blushed again. "Thanks, Sirius."
"Yeah, thanks, Sirius. It was nice making your acquaintance, if I don't see you on my way out." Sirius nodded before he vanished behind the closed curtains.
"Who would have thought, the first time we sleep in a bed together, and it's in the hospital wing with your godfather standing guard."
Harry snorted lowly, settling into bed and Draco, facing him. Draco wrapped his arm around Harry, rubbing his back gently. "I'm proud of you, for everything that you did today. I love you, Sweetheart." Draco whispered into his hair.
Harry tightened his hold on Draco, pulling him a little closer. "I love you too, Baby." Draco growled playfully and kissed his head. Harry sighed happily. Even if everything seemed to have gotten much worse, it was so much better knowing that whatever he had to face next, Draco would be with him.
They shared a quick peck then settled back into the bed, pulling the covers over Draco as well. Draco disappeared under the invisibility cloak, and Harry settled into him on his side. Draco stilled his arm around Harry's waist lightly and Harry loved the weight of it. He felt Draco's lips against his forehead before there was a whispered, "Sweet dreams."
"Good night, my love. Sweet dreams."
Albus Dumbledore sighed lightly as he cast a spell to muffle his footsteps. It was very early morning, very few occupants of the castle were awake. It was his favorite time of day, before the hustle and bustle of busy students cramming studying and homework they should have completed the night before, the birds were still singing—he had enchanted his bedroom window, so they would be the first thing he heard every morning. He supposed it was a part of being so ancient that he enjoyed the quiet stillness of the morning.
He had no reason to fear being discovered, he simply didn't want to wake Harry, or his canine dogfather, quite yet. He had been exhausted the day previously and had fallen asleep early enough that Albus assumed he would be up soon. He had something important to discuss with Harry and he hadn't wanted to tack it on to the discussion the previous day with Harry already having to deal with so much trauma. He also didn't want Sirius to find out, he doubted he knew already.
Albus chuckled when he reached the hospital wing door. Sirius's signature was all over it, sloppy, but then, it was most likely to alert him to students entering, not professors who could easily detect and dismantle it. He was a talented wizard, there was no question about that, but he tended to favor big and noisy, which was not always wise in combat. Albus himself preferred subtle magic, hiding in plain sight. He made easy work of dismantling the wards, keeping them up but allowing himself passage inside without setting off any alarms.
Sirius was snoozing, snoring softly in his canine form. He might have been even more tired than Harry was. Albus stepped quietly around him, pulled the curtains for Harry's bed out and froze.
Albus was very, very old. Not very many things surprised him anymore, and it had been quite a long time since he had a shock of this magnitude. Why, the last time he had been surprised had involved these two as well.
Harry Potter was laying on his side, fast asleep, small smile on his face. That, after his experience the previous day, was surprising enough. What absolutely floored Albus, however, was the boy curled around him, holding him close to his chest. Draco Malfoy was also on his side, arm loosely wrapped around Harry, face buried in his hair, but Albus could definitely detect a smile on his face as well. Part of his body was obscured, as if an invisibility cloak had been wrapped around him.
Albus conjured a chair and sat down heavily. He really was too old for this. He disillusioned himself and the chair as well, just in case either occupant of the bed were to awaken before he had a chance to decide what to do.
It was Mr. Malfoy, Draco, that Albus had come to discuss with Harry. He really should have expected this, but they were very talented at their deception. There must be a very good reason for it.
This last February, in preparation for the second task, the panel of judges had sat in Albus's office, around a table that held a device. It was silver, old, and weird. Albus had many similar objects in his possession, but this one in particular had a unique purpose. It detected desire. Not in the way the Mirror of Erised did, it could be calibrated to detect desire for anything. A favorite beverage, one's favorite quidditch team, a person's likely career choice. It could even detect the person most important to a person. There was very little use for it practically, unless you wanted to be able to predict how the future would play out. It was a mysterious object, even Albus wasn't entirely sure how it worked, but it had never been wrong.
He suspected it used a little bit of divination, though not the kind that depended on human error. All one had to do is write down a person's full name on one side of a piece of parchment, on the other write what one wanted to find out (a favorite person, perhaps), and insert it into the machine in one hole with a lock of hair to the other. It would whirr, clank, and purr, ding, then another piece of parchment (or perhaps the same one with the ink erased, did the original just disappear?) would come out the other side.
Madam Maxime and Igor Karkaroff had already received their answers for their champions, as had Albus for Mr. Diggory. All they waited on was Harry's. It seemed to take longer than the others had, for some reason, although that might just be Albus's mind playing a trick on him, it tended to do that from time to time. He was worried that the parchment would read: Sirius Black. He had a plan in place for that eventuality, he would simply say it read: Ron Weasley. It was easy enough to believe and wouldn't raise any eyebrows.
The device pinged, and parchment was fed through the escape. Albus caught it before it could fall and raised it up to his eyes and received the first shock he had experienced in a long time.
Printed on the parchment, clear as day, read: Draco Malfoy. Albus stared.
His first thought was that the machine had made a mistake. It beeped, as if it could hear Albus's thought and protested. Even without that, he found it hard to believe that the machine would choose now to break. That left him with two possibilities.
Harry must want Draco in some way, whether it be as a friend or as something more. He knew that they had been friendly before the train ride their first year, of course. Hagrid had seen fit to warn him when Harry wouldn't stop talking about the blonde boy, Draco, his first friend. He was rather relieved when Lucius Malfoy put a stop to it.
There was absolutely no way they were friends currently. Draco and Harry fought like he hadn't seen in decades after that. It reminded him of his own rivalry (and romance) with Gellert. He quickly turned away from that line of thinking.
Albus restrained himself from sighing. Harry was so innocent and pure. He must remember Draco, the Draco that had been kind to him, not the Draco that took every opportunity to torment him. Harry remembered his first friend, and Albus knew Draco had been his first, Arabella Figg's reports had been clear on that.
Harry couldn't be any more loyal. Harboring a secret longing for the boy that bullied him. It was sweet, and endearing. It did, however, need to be stopped. Harry could not be tempted by the side of darkness, as Severus had been. If he had fallen for any other person, someone from Gryffindor, Albus would not have interfered. Feelings, he knew better than anyone, could sway a person from even their deepest-rooted morals, and Harry was the last person on earth that could be swayed. He had a very important job to do.
It would be sad when Harry died, deeply sad. Albus hadn't expected to be so fond of his martyr. He wished Harry all the happiness he could while he was still alive. That did not mean he would let the opportunity for Harry to decide he couldn't sacrifice himself, however. He had his suspicions that Harry would live. It was not a suspicion rooted in logic, but rather, as the kid's called it, a gut feeling.
He valued logic and knowledge above many things, but after such a long life, he had learned the value of subconscious belief. It played a part in everyday life and could not be dissuaded by cool logic and hard fact.
After Harry died, if he survived, (funny thought) he could do whatever he wanted. He could travel the world, play professional quidditch and marry the person of his dreams, if that was what he desired. Until then, however, Albus had a plan for him, and it could not be interrupted by the likes of Draco Malfoy.
The boy was too much like his Father. Albus knew he would take the Dark Mark and rise in the ranks of Death Eaters just as his Father had done when Tom Riddle returned. Years from now, they could be in a fight, and Harry might hesitate, even for just a moment, and his mistake could be fatal. That was a best-case scenario. A worst case might be that Draco seduces Harry to the dark side. If that were to happen, all would be lost.
A cough interrupted his musings. It was Igor, and Albus realized he had been staring at the parchment for far too long.
"My apologies," He said, lowering the parchment from their eyes. "I'm afraid I just had what my students might call a 'senior moment.' Please forgive me. Harry Potter's hostage shall be Ron Weasley."
Albus took a deep breath as he watched the two sleep. He acknowledged briefly that what he was doing could be considered creepy, but there were much more important factors at play.
He had been wrong, on several accounts, obviously, and it was not a feeling he took to comfortably.
Draco obviously returned whatever feelings Harry had for him, and he would be even more surprised if they weren't more than friends. Even close friends rarely slept in the same bed together. No, he was looking at a couple. This changed everything.
He never would have suspected these two were close, much less friends, much less lovers. For a brief moment, he was happy for both of them. He was reminded again of him and Gellert, and he was ecstatic that love had triumphed for at least one of them. This did mean a change of plan was in order, however.
Draco took a deep breath and pulled Harry closer to him with his free arm. Harry made a hum of appreciation before turning his head, so it was closer to Draco's. Neither woke.
As far as he was concerned, this meant that Draco was firmly on the side of good, not evil, like his Father and like Albus had thought. He had thought that for the two to be friends, Harry would have to sacrifice his good nature and join the darkness. Another device in his office had confirmed that very morning that Harry was one-hundred percent pure light, however. He would need to take one of Draco's hairs to confirm the same for him, but he knew he would be correct this time.
After a quick cutting curse to the blonde's locks, Albus sat back, still considering. If Draco was on the side of light, he would need protecting. Perhaps that is why the boys had so vehemently opposed their joining in the public eye. Albus did know that Lucius had forbidden even friendship between the two, so they had gone around him. It was brilliant, a well-executed plan, that had tricked even him. That was saying something, if he did say so himself.
He had grown fonder of Harry than he had ever dreamed he would. Harry's courage in the face of Voldemort had increased the protective instinct he found in himself for the boy. He wished him happiness, and knew that if he had someone special, he would do anything for that person.
That meant that Draco had just become the second most important person in the wizarding world. He would need guidance, and help, and Albus needed to ensure he received it. He would talk to Severus later that day and put forth into motion plans he had already formulated while simply sitting there.
He should leave them to their peace, but he stayed a few moments longer. It really was a sweet sight. He hoped they enjoyed these quiet moments, they would be fewer and fewer as the years went on.
Just as he was about to leave, Draco's wand began vibrating on the nightstand. He breathed in and out deeply before blindly touching it to turn it off. Harry stirred but did not awaken as Draco detached himself from Harry. Albus smiled, invisible to him, as Draco leaned over Harry to whisper something in his ear before kissing his cheek long and lingering. Draco stood slowly, running his hand down Harry's side before he departed, taking one last look before he disappeared behind the curtain.
Albus hadn't needed any confirmation of their romantic relationship, but he certainly had it. He frowned. He wouldn't speak to Harry today, he decided. There was nothing to say at this point, besides perhaps a congratulations. He had a feeling they would both be more comfortable with fewer people knowing about them. He wondered if Sirius knew, the sly dog.
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Draco paused in his obsessive touchup as he took in Vincent's question. "As much as I may seem it, I'm not omnipotent, and as such, have no idea as to what you are referring to." He drawled.
As always, it took a minute for Vincent and Greggory to translate what he had said. Once they did, Greg finally said, "why didn't you tell us about the Dark Lord's return?"
Draco paled. "How did you hear of that?"
"Stop being coy, Draco. Our fathers wrote to us. We know you know, that's why you were acting so weird when Potter was taken."
Draco sighed. Here it was, his first test as a loyal Death Eater's son. "Aright. You caught me. My father may have implied that something would be happening soon, but I wasn't sure what. Not a common occurrence, I assure you."
"Huh." Vince and Greg traded looks. They had always been closer to each other than Draco was to either of them. Draco turned back to his mirror, waiting for them to say something else. Instead, they went about packing their own things. Draco was surprised. That had been a rather short confrontation, and Draco wondered what they wanted.
He had noticed, though no one else would have, that his hair had been cut on the right side and was now slightly uneven. He knew that no one would notice it, but he did and that was important. With skillful rearrangement, his hair was at an acceptable (perfect) level.
As soon as he was done, he closed the curtains around his bed to regain some privacy. His first test had presumably gone well, but that didn't mean he felt good about it. Things were about to get very difficult, for him and Harry. Of course, things had been difficult before, and they, as a couple, had been fine. Draco knew that as long as they were together, things would work out for the best.
A/N: Thanks for reading! And thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, I appreciate it.