I am feeling so much better, but I do have to thank fangirlynerdy for their comment it really helped me come back. Thank you so, so much. And I am honestly feeling so much better. I'm not sure how often chapters will be up, but I enjoy editing them. I try to be funny, but I'm not very funny. On to chapter 7!
Holidays soon came to Hogwarts, which found the Malfoy-Potter relationship still undefined. They were stuck. Neither wanted to bring it up. There they sat next to each other in the great hall. Neither wanted to deal with whatever tension they were experiencing, so neither brought it up. It was a fantastic coping mechanism both had developed over the years, but it wasn't very healthy. They continued pretending everything went on normally with them as best friends and nothing more because why should anything change? They certainly did not grade homework together, sneaking kisses every so often in the darkness of Draco's room. They certainly did not fall asleep together once or twice or ten times. Whoever insinuated such a thing? They were… something.
"Over the holidays, I would like you to write an essay on the importance of the holiday you celebrate. It must be at least six inches. Don't fret over it, think of it as a bit of fun. Class dismissed." Harry watched as the students scurried out of their last class before the holidays. Those who were leaving were set to go on the train tomorrow morning. They were excited for no classes.
"Have a happy Christmas, professor!"
"Have fun without us!"
"Happy holidays!"
Harry smiled as he shuffled through the papers on his desk and stuck most of them in a drawer. Students were still walking past, all of them excited for what the holidays might bring. For Harry, they meant a break. His family was almost non existent. He might go home to celebrate the holidays with Ron and Hermione, but they might want to be alone this Christmas.
He looked up to find Draco in the doorway of his classroom. Draco Malfoy, his… friend. He was standing in the doorway with such grace that it almost took Harry's breath away, but Harry James Potter managed to keep himself looking like nothing had occurred internally and he was not squealing in excitement. That was definitely not happening, not at all.
"Evening, Draco." Harry smiled as he walked over to him. How had Draco forgotten in the past five seconds how completely amazing Harry looked in this lighting? It seemed impossible now that he was here. Harry was… wow. He was wow. That at least was how Draco was feeling in this moment as his stomach flipped and his cheeks turned red. He couldn't help but smile a little. Harry was kind and also extremely hot. Draco couldn't get over that apparently. But, it's Harry Potter. He's hot, we know.
"Harry," Draco greeted. Harry and him walked side by side toward the great hall. Both were internally squealing and sneaking glances of the other. Draco wanted to start a conversation, but his voice appeared to be caught in his throat. He looked over about five times before finally clearing his throat to talk to Harry.
"Are you doing anything for the holidays?" Draco asked. Harry's mind came out of the clouds and back to earth with this question. He pondered for a slight moment as he imagined spending the holidays with Draco. It would be… amazing.
"I'm not sure, I might stay here. Are you doing anything?" Harry looked at Draco. Draco smirked because he knew the answer. He hoped it would come out as smooth as it was going in his head. He was only smooth in school because he was literally obsessed with Harry Potter and didn't care for the girls throwing themselves at him, or not doing that. He tried to be smooth with his next words, pausing before answering.
"I think I'm going to spend them with you." Draco could be smooth when he had confidence, something he severely lacked in his time at Hogwarts. He did it! Harry snapped his head up and he seemed to be short circuiting. He tried to regain his composure. Draco was… was he actually serious? That would be utterly amazing and he would be the luckiest guy in the world and he couldn't believe this. What was happening?
"That sounds nice," Harry replied. He thanked god for his voice not being mumbled or strangled. Draco could tell Harry was nervous, not that Harry knew. Harry thought he was doing rather well at hiding his feelings. He was not. Draco smirked knowing that he made Harry nervous and flustered like a bloody idiot. He could make Harry James Potter flustered. They sat down in their spots they have had all year in the great hall. Harry spoke up once more, "I would be going home, but I've never really had a home."
"What about Ron and Hermione?" Draco asked. The Golden Trio, inseparable throughout school. Draco would admit jealousy to their bond. He had wanted to be close, have friends. He did have friends, but they weren't inseparable like the golden trio was. Draco was over it, he was. He was! He could be close to Harry now, as teachers, not students, but he was still close to him and that was enough. He had a true and actual friend.
"I think they'd want to be alone this year. I believe Ron is planning on proposing, but don't quote me on that." Harry filled his plate with food as he talked. He was calming down after Draco's earlier statement. He was able to think straight and he was semi-sure of Ron proposing. Ron had told him he might, and Ron doesn't always follow through. Proposing… it's a big deal.
"Proposing?" Draco asked. He had never thought of Weasley as the kind to get married, let alone to Granger. Granger and Weasley never seemed to get along in school, but neither had he and Harry. Things change. People do weird things when they are totally obsessed with the other person, or that was just Draco. Draco had been obsessed with Harry Potter, but everyone knew that… except Harry Potter.
"Yeah, I'm not sure if Hermione is going to say yes." Harry sighed, he would be happy for his friends, but Hermione had planned on waiting until she was older to get married. Until she had an established career. She was a planner. Actually, she had a binder of her whole plan and marriage was not in this year, or even next year. Harry did not know when it was scheduled, but he knew that Hermione had told Ron the year she would consider it. However, Ron really loved this girl. They were in their early twenties, but that's no reason not to. However, for Hermione that was one of the hundreds of reasons not to. Harry wanted to be as far away from that as possible.
"They might want to be alone," Draco agreed. He let out a small laugh. Harry smiled back, but he was still a little concerned for his friends. He knew it might be okay. He decided that he could stay out of it for right now.
"Maybe." Harry looked over to see Mcgonagal talking to some of the other teachers. She was still her stern self, and a better headmaster than Dumbledore was. Draco followed his gaze before changing the topic to something less… personal.
"Where did you work before this?" Draco asked. There had been a five year gap between the end of the war and now. Draco knew this was Harry's first year teaching at Hogwarts. He couldn't help but wonder what the boy had done to occupy his time. He had never specified in their time of being friends. Draco wanted to get to know him better.
"I was an auror for a year, but I decided that wasn't what I was meant to do, so I became a private tutor for young wizards, or those who were struggling with their studies," Harry answered. He remembered the weeks of being rejected or embraced with excitement into people's homes. Teaching wizards with amazing talent and those who needed more help. It was a time of learning, but Mcgonnagal accepting his application was amazing and he would never forget the day he got the owl. He also realized that he was not aware of Draco's previous employment. So, he asked, "Where did you work?"
"I was a healer at St. Mungos," Draco replied. He looked at Harry who look a tad perplexed. If you have never seen Harry look perplexed, Draco swears the makes the cutest face on the planet.
"And then you became a potions teacher?" Harry asked, he was indeed perplexed. Draco smiled before replying.
"McGonagall wrote to me asking me to fill the position," Draco replied. Harry smiled. Draco had given up a probably successful career as a healer in order to be a teacher. That was… amazing. Draco cared for young people and for education. He wanted to teach, which was amazing. Teaching is a noble profession that should require a calling. A teacher who is not called to do so, is not a good teacher at all. Good teachers appreciate those who they teach and would give up good careers to teach.
"I'm glad you filled it." And Harry was glad. He enjoyed his time at Hogwarts with Draco as friends and… something else. They were almost defined. They didn't have to define themselves to be happy, but being defined leads to more and more until being defined can lead to… happiness. It doesn't require being defined, but a definition can definitely lead to it.
Draco Malfoy was… something to Harry Potter and Harry Potter was something to Draco Malfoy.
What?
You'd have to ask them.
That was actually fun to write. Something was supposed to happen in this chapter, but that would have made it longer. So it's happening in the next chapter. This was over 1,500 words so I didn't think you would want to read more rn. The dialogue is important for future happenings. Promise!
Love and Peaches, Jay Rose
