A/N: There were two scenes cut for this site in particular, I'm sure you'll be able to tell where. There is another version on another site that is particularly dirty, if you are interested in that. As I'm sure all you know, there's a rule preventing URL's, so I recommend just Googling MickeySLee or searching for 'A Hard Story' on Archive of Our Own, if you so desire an explicit rated version.
So, what are we going to do about Crabbe and Goyle?" Harry asked, after they had both awakened. They had laid back and cuddled for a while, but it had been weighing on his mind as he was laying there.
Draco let out a burst of air. "I don't know, sweetie. Let's go through it logically. What would happen if we stole it?"
Harry hummed. "Well, it would be useless without the other one, right? That might be the best thing."
"I'm concerned what will happen if we do that though. What will be their reaction? Will they know it was me, and confront me? Attack me to get it back? They're obligated to make this happen, so they'll just come up with something else, something that we have no idea about. I'm wondering if the smarter thing to do is let them keep going, thinking they're going to succeed."
"What if they do?" Harry sat up on his side to see Draco more fully.
Draco shook his head. "They really and truly are not very intelligent, I don't think they will be able to do it. Maybe we could put some spells on it, mess with how it works, so we know they won't be able to figure it out."
"Why don't we take a look at it, see if we can figure it out?"
"I couldn't, what makes you think you can?" Harry gave him a wry look. "Alright, I guess it's as good an idea as any." They dressed, exited the room and called forth the room of lost things. Harry gaped at the mountains of possessions.
He put his hand into the closest pile, coming back with a bottle of sherry. That was strange. There were books, broken pieces of furniture, random objects. He went further into the room, looking around in interest. Ahead of him was a bust with a tiara on its head. He strode forward, something about the crown calling to him. His vision tunneled strangely, and he heard strange whispering. His fingers reached out, about to touch the odd thing.
"Over here," Draco called. Harry looked around, startled. The spell that had been played on him had broken, and there was nothing strange about the tiara, except why would someone put it there? Draco was waving to him, so he followed him over to a familiar looking wardrobe. It was big, and he had climbed inside a very identical one four years ago at Borgin and Burkes. This one appeared a little more worn, like it had been dropped from a height.
Draco was waving his wand over the cabinet, Harry wasn't sure what the intent was. He did a visual inspection instead. The door wouldn't close all the way, it was slightly off kilter, as if the hinges had come loose. He waved the door back and forth experimentally.
Draco sighed as he ceased his spell casting. "I just don't know what's wrong with it." He said.
Harry hummed. "Could it be because it's not closing all the way?" Harry asked as he tried lifting the door, so it would close evenly. Draco frowned.
"It really shouldn't matter with the magic around and ingrained in it." Harry shrugged and asked the room for a toolbox. It might not work, but it was probably worth a shot. With a screwdriver, he unscrewed the screws around the hinges until the door fell all the way off. "Well, now it definitely won't work." Draco commented dryly. Harry didn't bother looking at him.
He requested new hinges and the room provided shiny gold ones. "Can you hold the door up for me?" Harry asked, and Draco did so doubtfully.
"I never noticed it was a muggle cabinet." Draco said, looking as if he was curious. "What is that you're using? Do muggles have wands?"
Harry laughed. "No, it's called a screwdriver. These little things are called screws, so you're literally driving the screws into the holes."
Draco hummed. "How do the holes get there?"
"There's another muggle tool called a drill that makes holes in things like wood and metal." Draco hummed in interest again.
"Wizards just use sticking charms. It's so clever what they've managed to do without magic." Harry laughed, so in love with the Pureblood wizard that found muggles fascinating. He tried not to think of Arthur Weasley.
When he had both hinges on, Draco let go of the door and Harry opened and closed it. It closed evenly and perfect. Draco narrowed his eyes and produced an apple, placing it in the center of the cabinet. He closed the door, waited a moment, and opened it again. The apple had vanished. He gasped in excitement. Another close and open and the apple reappeared, whole, healthy and unrotten.
"It worked! You fixed it! You are incredible, Harry!" Harry blushed in pleasure as Draco hugged him. The joy of their success lasted a couple moments, then they looked at each other. "What now?"
Harry bit his lip. "Now we know for sure what was wrong, do you think they will figure it out if I break it again?"
Draco shook his head. "No way would I ever have thought of this. There's no way in hell that Crabbe or Goyle will figure it out either. I think if we put it back how it was, it'll be safe. What do you think?"
Harry shrugged. "You know them better than I do. If you say it's safe, I believe you. Maybe we could break it further just to be sure?"
Draco nodded and started waving his wand. Harry stood back to watch. "There. I've messed with the teleportation properties just enough they'll never figure it out. Can you put the… screws back in?" Harry nodded and did so.
"How are Crabbe and Goyle treating you?" Harry asked as they exited the room.
Draco snorted. "I think they're suspicious about what my intentions are. Voldemort told me that some of his followers warned him about my intentions, which was apparently less than he desired, and I think it might have been them. They're acting more like my guards than bodyguards. They ask me where I'm going a lot and they never cared before. They're harder to shake when I go see you. I think the only time they don't have some sort of eye on me is when they sneak off to go work on the cabinet."
Harry hummed thoughtfully. "Can you keep an eye on them? We need to monitor how much progress they're making." They called up another room and entered.
Draco sighed. "Why is this up to us? Dumbledore said he had everything under control. Why do you always have to be responsible for everything?"
Harry thought for a moment. "I guess I don't have to be, but if I don't, who will?"
Draco let another sigh out, this time longer. "I knew who you were when I fell for you."
"What does that mean?" Harry asked, thinking he should probably be a little offended.
Draco smiled and took his hand. They both looked around the room they had created together. It was stone walls, floors and ceiling, just like the rest of the castle. There were candles all over the room, and a fire was roaring in the fireplace, casting a very romantic glow throughout the room. There was a red carpet in front of the fire, a dark wood coffee table behind that, a black leather couch behind that, and a bed in the middle of the back wall. There were nightstands on either side, both them and the frame made from dark wood. The bedclothes were black as well, with gold and silver thin lines embroidered around the edges. There was a red plush blanket folded at the end of the bed, and that and the pillows looked very fluffy. Harry thought it couldn't be more perfect.
Draco used the hand he was holding to pull Harry close and hug him. "Happy Valentine's." Harry said.
"Happy Valentine's. Are you hungry yet? We could call for dinner." Harry's stomach rumbled, answering Draco's question. Draco laughed and called for Kreature. Harry would have preferred Dobby, but Draco was still unsettled with him around. Kreature adored Draco, he had made it clear through his mutterings that he preferred him as a master. Harry barely cared.
"What can Kreature be doing for Master Draco?" Kreature asked, bowing low. Harry rolled his eyes.
"We would like dinner for two, as well as a dessert. Chocolate covered strawberries if they're available, as well." Kreature bowed low again, muttering about how wonderful it was to serve a proper pureblood, then popped out of existence. Harry took a seat on the couch as Draco retrieved the red blanket from the bed, wrapping it around both of them as he took his own seat.
Harry smiled at him and kissed him lightly. There was a sense of suspense in the air. They had slept in the same bed before, but Harry was planning on something more happening tonight, something that was going to come close to what he was not ready for, but he thought he was ready for this, what he was planning. His heart skipped a beat as he thought about what he had brought along in his bag.
He pulled back against Draco's low whine of protest. "Don't you want your present?" Draco deflated, the first time he ever had when presents were mentioned. "What's wrong?"
"I didn't get you anything. I will, but I feel guilty opening something when you don't have anything."
Harry cupped his cheek. "I don't care about that one bit. Just being your boyfriend is an honor, and plenty gift enough for me." Draco snorted and rolled his eyes at Harry's sap. "Besides, I thought of that, too. I got myself something in your name." Draco laughed.
"You have thought of everything, haven't you?" Harry pulled his bag up to his lap and handed Draco his main present. Draco raised an eyebrow as he took in the professional wrapping.
"I had the shopkeeper wrap it." Harry said sheepishly. Draco shook his head.
"Don't do that again, I love your crappy wrapping." Harry blushed, pleased. Draco unwrapped his present at a far more sedate pace than usual, revealing a leather-bound book. "It's beautiful." He commented, opening the pages to see what they held.
"It's an adjustable potions journal. There's instructions on the back page, but there's places for ingredients, instructions, and notes. Snape mentioned it's pureblood tradition to have one of these for personal use, right? I didn't overstep my bounds, did I?"
"No, you didn't, my love." Draco said, humbled and loved. He took Harry's face and kissed him with all his gratitude. When he pulled back, he said, "I love it. Thank you. What did you get for yourself?" Harry grinned.
"I don't know, I guess I should open it and find out, huh?" Harry handed the present to Draco, who passed it back with an eyeroll. It was refills for his broomstick servicing kit. He had been dangerously low for quite a while. "Thank you, Baby!" He simpered. Draco rolled his eyes again.
"You're welcome, you stupid, beautiful sap." They kissed again, this time, more passionately. They fell back, Draco on top of Harry. Things were getting hot when there was a loud pop, breaking them apart.
"Masters is being improper." Kreature mumbled as he directed the platters of food to the coffee table in front of them. "What would poor Mistress say? Oh, poor Mistress. Her nephew, consorting with half-breeds—"
"Oi!" Draco snapped. "You will cease your insistent mumblings at once! I don't want to hear another word against your master, what would your mistress say about her house elf behaving so poorly?"
Kreature gasped in horror. "Kreature is a good elf!" He cried, throwing himself to the floor at Harry's feet. "Kreature will never speak ill of Master again!" Draco glared at him.
"See that you don't. You are dismissed until you are called." Kreature bowed once again, for once not saying anything, and popped out of the room again. Harry raised a brow at Draco. He didn't hold much sympathy for Kreature, but he wasn't exactly much more than a nuisance either.
"Was that necessary?" He asked Draco, pulling the table closer to them.
Draco nodded. "They like being treated like that, they respect it. You and Sirius don't give him enough to do, so he gets bored. That's why he's muttering, not because he's mad."
Harry hummed non-committedly. He didn't agree with negative treatment but didn't want to argue with Draco just now. He sat on the floor, and after a groan, Draco joined him. They teased each other lightly over the quidditch prospects for the next game over a dinner of pasta. Dessert was ice-cream with hot chocolate fudge sauce. Harry and Draco took turns spoon feeding each other and laughing when they missed each other's mouths.
"Let's go lay down," Draco said as he stood and grabbed the strawberries. Harry gulped, but took his outstretched hand and followed him. Draco pushed Harry down lightly to sit on the edge of the bed, standing in front of him. He placed the strawberries on the nightstand and wrapped his fingers through Harry's hair. "Are you sure there is nothing you want from me?" Draco whispered as he leaned down, head resting against Harry's.
Draco's lips were so close to him. "I love your sweet kisses." He returned, tilting his head up closer.
Draco smirked softly, the one Harry loved. He scraped his nails against Harry's scalp. "Do you want some of my sweet kisses?"
"Well, if you're just going to hand them out, I'd better be the recipient." Draco's lips brushed his as he hummed.
"All my kisses are yours." He pulled Harry's bottom lip into his mouth, massaging it with his tongue, as he climbed on top of Harry, legs on either side of him, straddling him. Harry leaned back a little to allow him more room. They exchanged soft, sweet, little kisses slowly, letting the tension build.
Harry was able to see an improvement in Draco's disposition as the weeks wore on. He began making fun of Harry in public again, he gained some of the weight he had lost, his skin appeared less pale, and he was happier when they were in private. He couldn't be gladder.
"They finally confronted me," Draco told Harry one Sunday before March.
"Who?"
"Crabbe and Goyle. Wanted to know if I was still working on the plan for Voldemort. I told them it was none of their business, but they disagreed. I tried to use some intimidation, and they backed off, for now, but I don't know how long that will last. I think they might know that I've abandoned the cause. I'm worried, Harry." Harry pulled him closer to his chest, worried as well.
Ron's birthday started out rather boring, compared to the rest of it. Ron fell victim to a love potion Romilda Vane had snuck to Harry in a box of chocolates. He convinced Ron to go to Slughorn's office to get the antidote, and Slughorn convinced them to celebrate overcoming it with a drink. Ron downed his in one gulp, rather depressed after his ordeal.
Harry couldn't imagine a worse way to spend a birthday than love-potioned. It even made him feel better about his own nightmarish birthdays.
Then came the fourth lesson with Dumbledore. Harry watched as a young Tom Riddle asked Hepzibah Smith about her Hufflepuff Cup, then ask Dumbledore about teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. He still had no idea how to get the missing memory from Slughorn.
Hope's Army had one drawback that Harry did (nonetheless) enjoy. It was hard to be around Draco and perform a delicate balance of trying to pretend that they hated each other but were forced to be civil with the other. They normally compensated by ignoring each other.
Dumbledore had told them that he understood teenagers needed time away from adults to be teenagers and bowed out gracefully. He did attend at least one meeting a month to check in with them all, and the others were slowly becoming used to his presence amongst them. Dumbledore had told Harry that what he missed most about teaching was interacting with his students, so Harry asked him to teach them some spells, which was met with much enthusiasm. Just like that, the club began to resemble Dumbledore's Army, and the name was even more fitting with Dumbledore teaching. He didn't tell this to Dumbledore, however. That, along with Apparition lessons, made his schedule very full.
Other times, when Dumbledore wasn't there, it resembled more of a party. Occasionally they would all sit together in the circle of chairs and talk about their week, or their fears. Sometimes Mandy would have a prompt, other times they just talked about whatever they wanted. Every now and then it would break off and they would all have separate conversations about anything in small groups, socializing. Harry preferred the big group, so it wasn't unusual if he stared at Draco, should he talk.
Draco was quiet a lot, especially after his mother died. It got around that he found out his mother died, specifically, Mandy pulled Harry aside to a small corner with a hardened expression. She pointed a finger at him and told him to leave Draco alone, at least for a little while. When Harry asked why, she said his mother had passed away. Harry was surprised she knew, thankfully his surprise was the appropriate response.
Draco would occasionally glare at him or those around him, and Harry wasn't entirely sure why, except that perhaps it was to mask wanting to look at him, like he did to Draco. It was occasionally Ginny that was with him when he did, but sometimes it was one of the older boys. They seemed to like touching him on the arm or shoulder, pushing him as Harry told a joke. Harry figured the over affection was a quality to being gay.
Harry didn't like it when someone would hit on Draco, which happened more than he would care to admit. Draco didn't tell them off completely, like Harry wanted him to. He wished Draco would say, "get away from me, I have a boyfriend I'm madly in love with," but instead he would laugh at the jokes, gently shrug off the touches, and yawn to dissuade. Harry understood that no one could make a connection between them, and he trusted Draco, but it couldn't help but bother him.
He understood it must be hard to date, he was glad he really didn't have to deal with trying to find a partner. Most of the 'out' students were in the club, and they had the options of being friends and dateless or trying to date and making it awkward amongst the only people who understood what it was like to be a member of LGBT. It wasn't something he envied.
"Your hair is looking luscious today," Terry Boot told Draco within hearing distance of Harry. He was talking to Jamie, the first-year trans girl about defense; Jamie didn't understand one of the lessons. He explained about the counter charm to jinxes while half listening to the conversation.
"Thank you, although, it looks luscious every day." Draco drawled, unimpressed. Harry grinned, facing away from him, and Jamie grinned back a little uncertainly. Harry cleared his throat before continuing.
Terry laughed, "Oh, Draco, you are just so funny." He placed a hand on Draco's arm, the one holding a drink. Harry saw out of the corner of his eye Draco take a sip to dislodge it gracefully. He wished he were that smooth.
"I am, aren't I?" Draco said humbly. Harry held back a snort. That was his Draco.
"What are you supposed to do if someone curses you with a silencing charm, then tries to curse you with something else?" Jamie pulled his attention back.
"…Astronomy tower with me? The stars up there are incredible." He caught the end of Draco's conversation after he answered Jamie and had to stop himself from vaulting over the table in between them to intervene. Jamie asked another question, but Harry was listening intently to Draco's answer.
"You don't say? The stars look good from the Astronomy tower? It's almost as though it were designed to be that way." Terry laughed, then a little hesitatingly as if he wasn't quite sure if Draco were joking or not. Jamie waved a hand in Harry's face, and Harry finally realized she had been talking. He gave her an apologetic look before answering and missed whatever Draco said to get Terry to go away. Jamie left too, and Harry sat in front of the table to eat some snacks. It was completely unintentional that he was near Draco.
"You really just won't give any of these people a break, will you?" Blaise Zabini said to Draco as he handed him another drink. Draco thanked him but didn't comment. "Are you ever going to give any of these blokes a chance?" Blaise rephrased.
Draco sighed. "I don't think so. Maybe if they didn't try so hard. They reek of desperation." Harry took another chip, dipped it, and chewed thoughtfully, a tiny niggle of doubt and dread wiggling about in his gut.
"You know, I'm not really into the dating and strings thing either. If you ever wanted, you and I could hook up." Harry choked on his mouthful. None of the boys had been that forward with him.
Draco was much more graceful. He raised a sculpted eyebrow. "I'm not sure that would be a good idea, Blaise."
Blaise shrugged. "Bad idea or not, it's just sex. It doesn't have to mean anything. And the offer's open, you know where my bed is. If there's not someone already in it. Of course, that's something I need to cross off the list." He leered at Draco and Harry felt fury rise in him. One of the glasses on the table broke, exploding liquid all over Harry.
It drew the attention of the room. "Why does that keep happening?" Blaise demanded loudly. Harry tried hard to play it cool.
"Must be a defect in the bottles," Draco drawled. "Unless, of course, the drinks themselves want a piece of Potter. What, that was a compliment!" He added to Mandy, who had given him a warning look.
"I'm just going to go get cleaned up," Harry told the room. There were waves and mumbles and Harry left. Cleaning charms were fine, but they didn't quite do the job of a good wash, and Harry needed a moment to himself to calm down anyway.
"What was the explosion about?" Draco asked Harry the next day.
"How do you know it was me?" Harry demanded. Draco snorted.
"Because, for some reason, explosions are your thing. So?" Harry gathered his thoughts, it wasn't that he didn't want to talk to Draco, he knew they could talk about anything, but this conversation could go very badly, and he was a little afraid of the outcome. Draco reached over and took his hand, rubbing his thumb lightly over Harry's. It gave Harry strength.
"Do you ever think about what it would be like to date other people?" He asked, feeling his stomach churn in protest.
Draco looked stunned. "Not really. Maybe, honestly, I've looked at someone and my brain jumped to picture it. But no matter what, it's never as good as what we have. I would never want anyone but you Harry. From what I understand, it's a healthy thing to look on occasion. I would never betray you, but do you think it's wrong, if my mind jumps to something without consciously thinking about it?"
Harry took a deep breath. "What if that's your subconscious wanting to try something else? We've never dated anyone else, Draco, and we're talking about getting married. That's not normal, is it? I just can't help but wonder if it would be for the best if…" He couldn't even complete the thought. He was starting to feel sick.
"Do you want to break up?" Draco asked, looking stricken.
"No!" Harry practically shouted. "I really don't. The thought alone is killing me. I can't picture a single day without you in it. I'm just scared that we're supposed to be doing something that we're missing out on. Blaise said sex didn't have to mean anything, and I can't help but wonder if that's something you want." Harry wasn't making much sense, he knew that, wasn't coming across his point clearly. He wasn't sure how to say it correctly, however.
"Sweetheart," Draco said, cupping his face. "If you don't want to break up then we shouldn't. Simple as that. I can't imagine my life without you by my side, and I don't want to either. Maybe we are missing out on dating around, and flirting with anything that moves, and, yeah, meaningless sex, but they are missing out on having the kind of relationship that you and I have spent years building. They want what we have, Harry, and they're just trying to fill their lives with what they can. I love what we have, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world." Harry blinked, overwhelmed. "I don't want any of that, sweetie. I want you, and I will always want you. I do want to marry you, when you're ready to say yes."
Harry looked down. "What about…I have a fear of intimacy, Draco. It can't be easy, and we should be having sex by now, but we aren't, because of me. I'm tired of my own mood swings, you have to be too."
"Listen to me, Harry Potter." Draco said in a hard tone. Harry looked up to meet his eyes. "I will tell you this every time until you believe it. I love you, more than anything in this world. It doesn't matter to me that you're scared. You were nervous about a lot of things we've done, and the more we do, the more comfortable you feel. You are getting so much better, and I am so proud of you. I wouldn't trade the things we do together for the best sex in the world, and I imagine that would only be with you. We will have it when we are both ready, and not a minute before. I won't be ready until you are, my love." He kissed Harry fiercely.
Harry sighed into the kiss. He felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest. That had been weighing on his mind for a long time, and it had only grown heavier. Now, there was a lightness in its place. He felt like showing Draco just how thankful he was to have him in his life, so he began devoiding Draco of his clothes. Draco hummed in interest, joining in on his activities.
Harry laughed, releasing some of the tension that had been building inside him. "You're sure?" He asked as Draco started licking his neck, peppering kisses over his lines. He knew he was.
"Yes. I'll tell you as many times as you need, since you're so thick it takes forever to get through your skull." Harry laughed in surprise again, as Draco pushed him down and kissed the center of his chest. Harry fought with him for dominance, feeling a little frisky.
Draco's eyes came alight with happiness and competition. They loved playing together, and it took years off of them. He went for Harry's wrists, and Harry fought against him to regain power. At the angle they were in, it didn't matter that Harry was a bit stronger, Draco had the leverage.
He shifted, trying to regain the upper position, as Draco started placing kisses on his skin. He, for one moment, almost gave in to letting Draco have the power and be loved on, but then he felt like he couldn't let Draco win, at least not that easy.
He hooked his leg around Draco's and pulled, sending Draco toppling on top of him. He used Draco's surprise to roll him and climb on top. He kissed and sucked on his neck as he went, working on Draco's belt.
Afterwards, they cuddled up and traded a couple kisses, enjoying their mixed tastes as usual. "I won." Draco told him.
"Yeah right." Harry disagreed. They had both won, but they argued about it for quite a while.
Florence Mayweather scowled as he looked around Dumbledore's office. He had never been in here before, and his fingers twitched at the thought of being placed on the many rare and valuable things he had littered all over the place.
He knew that that was what had gotten him in trouble in the first place. Stupid Abigail, ratting on him for taking her toy Nimbus 2000 model. It was so cool, and his parents never gave him anything. She had ten of other broomstick models she could play with, and he hadn't even taken the Firebolt, or the Nimubs 2001. What did she have to complain about really?
She was only upset because he picked on her occasionally. It wasn't even that mean but say one thing to the girl and she burst into tears. It was kind of funny.
Abigail didn't even know for sure that he was the one who took it. She just realized it was missing and immediately pointed her chubby little finger at him. He had seen her do it from across the common room. It wasn't fair.
He knew that there was no proof, and he probably shouldn't even be up in the Headmaster's office. There was never any proof he took the things he took. He had them in a box under his bed, enchanted to be hidden from prying eyes. He only ever took them out in the dead of night, when everyone else was asleep. So, there was no way he was in enough trouble to warrant a trip up here. This deserved punishment.
He wondered what the most valuable thing in the office was. Maybe the trinket on the bookshelf, the middle one in the pile? It probably wasn't anything that was laid out for just anyone to see. There was a pensive in one of the cabinets, he found it after some exploring, and knew that had to be one of the most valuable things. It would be hard to sneak it out, however, and Dumbledore would definitely realize it was missing. One of the ripped and broken spine books would probably not be missed.
Florence had a look at the papers covering Dumbledore's desk. How could he find anything in here? He definitely wouldn't be able to tell if one of these little things just happened to disappear. He took a lemon drop, he had heard that Dumbledore handed them out like, well, candy, but he wasn't here to offer it, so he enjoyed his grabbing. A thrill went up his spine as he tasted the lemony sourness.
There was a chain, under some of the papers, and Florence thought about taking it. He really shouldn't, after all, the reason he was here was for stealing. He felt the burning desire and made short work of grabbing that too. Maybe that was the trinket he was looking forward to obtaining.
Suddenly, he started coughing, unable to get air in his lungs. He was choking! He tumbled forward, hands scratching at his throat, as if hoping to find another way in. He was dying, he knew it.
It wasn't fair, he was so young! He had so much to live for and he was basically a good person, at the root of it all. Ok, so he stole things; that made him a thief, not deserving to die!
If he lived through this, he would stop his ways. He knew the things he did were bad, some of them, at least. He wanted to change that, if he got another chance, that was exactly what he would do.
Florence fell over to the floor and had just moments to register the sound of the door opening before his eyes were completely overcome with darkness.