Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy emerged from the locker room at the same time after the Slytherin/Gryffindor Quidditch match. "Good game, Potter," the Slytherin seeker said nodding to the other seventh-year.
"You too, Malfoy," Harry nodded in return. The two stood upon the Quidditch pitch, surveying the receding crowds.
"I'm really going to miss this place. I'm going to miss playing Quidditch against you, Harry."
"Me too." Harry realized he would indeed miss the small competitions with Draco. As the years had progressed, their animosity had grown to understanding and then friendship. "At least we tied in our last match, eh, Draco?"
"Yeah."
The two walked back to the castle laughing, remembering previous matches.
"Hey, there's an announcement on the doors!" Harry exclaimed. He ran up the last few steps and read aloud. "All students listed below please meet in the Great Hall after the Slytherin/Gryffindor Quidditch match today. We're both on it."
Draco, the taller of the two, leaned over Harry. "Everyone on there's in seventh-year, and most of them either plays Quidditch or are damn good on a broomstick."
"Well, we should probably get going."
They walked into the Great Hall, still carrying their brooms. "Ah, the last two," Dumbledore mused as the doors closed behind them. "You are gathered here because you now have the decision to make of what to do with your time after school. Some have made it into professional Quidditch, others as Quidditch theorists, and still others have, as yet, made no decision. I am going to offer all of you positions in the Riders of the Storm. This is a group of skilled fliers who collect information and protect wizards and muggles alike. It is dangerous, very dangerous, but also fulfilling. All of those who wish to leave now may do so." He looked around the room as a few quietly rose and left the room, mostly Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, but a few Gryffindors and the only Slytherin, other than Draco, left as well. "Those of you who remain will meet here an hour after the train departs next month for briefing on your first mission. Good day to you, Riders." Harry and Draco parted ways at the doors, heading for their dorms.
Time seemed to stop or at least move at the speed of frozen molasses for the next month. Harry said goodbye to Ron and Hermione as they boarded the Hogwarts Express. Draco suddenly appeared by his side. "See ya, Muggle," he said hugging Hermione. "Later, Weasel." He shook Ron's hand. The terms had become terms of endearment, rather than insults.
The couple replied with, "See ya, Dark Wizard." Once more, a term of endearment. Ron and Hermione boarded the train with one last look at their best friend, wondering if they would ever see him alive again. Harry watched the train depart, his throat strangely constricted. Draco placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. "It must be hard to say goodbye to someone you love, someone who loves you."
"It must be even harder to know your parents hold no love for you."
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Draco bend his head in silent grief. He took the blonde in his arms, not caring what the other students may think. "I'm sorry," he murmured in Draco's ear, "I shouldn't have said that."
"No, it's alright. I know you didn't mean it to be cruel. It's just."
"I know." Draco nuzzled Harry's mop of raven hair. "Your hair smells nice, Harry," he said in an attempt to change the subject. Oh, no, what did I just say?
Both boys started and pulled away. "We should, er, be going to the Great Hall," Harry said nervously eyeing Draco.
"Yes, we should."
As soon as they entered the Great Hall Hedwig and Lucifer, Draco's eagle owl, swooped on them, delivering identical pieces of parchment. Harry untied his and began reading:
Your partner will be Draco Malfoy, I hope you don't murder each other. You will be watching over the residents of Privet Drive. There is one witch living there, her name is Antonia Figg. She is a retired intelligence agent, so watch her house carefully. Needless to say, you will have to live on Privet Drive. Number 12 has been secured as your new residence. You and Mr. Malfoy must appear to be a normal couple; yes, this means clinging and public display of affection. You also need to appear to be Muggles. Take Mr. Malfoy shopping, I don't think he owns any Muggle clothing. Antonia will be watching out for you as well, by the way; she knows more about the spies of Voldemort, and will be able to help you. I've arranged an afternoon tea for you two with her for the twenty-eighth of June. Good luck to the both of you.
Harry looked up at Draco, then stuffed the note in his pocket as the two owls landed on the shoulder of their owner. "Meeting adjourned," Dumbledore said from the staff table, neither had noticed he was there.
As they left the hall, both boys wondered briefly if a fake relationship between them would last longer than their real one had.
Draco was the one to break the silence. "I guess we should get our stuff and move in."
"Yeah," Harry agreed, "but first we need to get you some Muggle clothes first."
"Yeah, that might be a good idea."
They quickly went to their dorms and grabbed their trunks, and met back in the entrance hall. They levitated their trunks and walked to Hogsmeade, where they left their trunks and apparated to the changing room of a random clothing store. Harry went out into the store and found jeans for Draco to try on first, then, once Draco asked if Muggles wore anything else, he brought him a few pairs of leather slacks and semi-dress trousers. Harry ended up taking back all the dress trousers he'd brought in, and bringing Draco more leather slacks. Harry proceeded to bring Draco T-shirts, and nice button-down shirts, most of which Draco liked. Once Draco had come up with one-hundred-fifty pounds worth of clothing, Harry told him to go back to Hogsmeade, and he would bring his clothes presently. Harry paid for Draco's clothes, vowing never to take the other boy shopping again. Once he had apparated back to the Leaky Cauldron, he thrust the bags at Draco, "Here; change."
Harry impatiently waited for Draco to change. When Draco finally did return to stuff the rest of his clothes in his trunk, Harry blinked a few times. Draco was wearing one the pairs so leather slacks he'd gotten, and the mesh button-down shirt, he had insisted on getting.
"You'd better change too, if we're supposed to look like a gay couple," Draco said to him. Harry opened his own trunk and withdrew a pair of black jeans and a black T-shirt. And he thinks he'll look gay in that? Draco snorted to himself, but promptly changed his mind upon seeing Harry in them. The jeans were made just right, so that they clung to his nicely curved buttocks and muscular thighs. The T-shirt was not a simple T-shirt, but a muscle shirt, aptly named on Harry. It was semi-translucent, and hugged his arms and chest, showing off his Quidditch muscles. The two stared at each other a moment, each thinking, He looks hot! But neither wanting to voice the fact.
"Now, we need to rent a car," Harry said. "This is much more work than it should be."
"I hope you know how to drive, Potter," Draco's voice was slightly fearful.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do," Harry replied with a grin.
As Harry and Draco climbed out of the rented Shelby Mustang and pulled their trunks (transfigured into suitcases) out of the boot, Draco hissed, "Remind me never to get in a car when you're driving."
Harry wrapped an arm around Draco's waist, and kissed his cheek, hoping Petunia was watching, before saying, "It's safer than riding with Ron."
"I don't even want to think about his driving 'skills.' He wrecked into the Whomping Willow, remember?"
"He was twelve, but I can't say his driving has improved much since then," Harry said unlocking the front door.
They left their suitcases by the door as they walked around the fully furnished house.
"Living room looks nice," Draco critiqued. "What's that black thing?"
"That's the telly," Harry explained. "It's uh hard to explain."
"Oh. Is there one of those computer things in this place?"
"Yeah," Harry said from the landing of the second floor. "In the er, bedroom."
"Not one in each?" Draco asked.
"Er." Harry paused.
"Uh oh." Draco started up the stairs. "Why don't I like the sound of that?"
"Because there's, er, only one bedroom."
"WHAT?!" Draco bounded up the rest of the stairs to make sure Harry wasn't kidding him. Unfortunately the entire upstairs was one bedroom, with a giant bed underneath one window. "He doesn't expect us to SLEEP together, does he?"
"I uh think so. I'll sleep on the floor."
"No, the Messiah should sleep in the bed. With his lover, of course."
"I'm not the bloody Messiah! And thank you for your input, Mary Magdalene," Harry exclaimed before seeing Draco's smirk.
"Only joking, love." Harry quirked an eyebrow. Draco nodded towards the stairwell, almost imperceptibly. Harry glanced around, and noticed his aunt standing on the top step. "Now, can we end this argument, please, you know I hate it when you shout."
"Of course, lovely. Forgive me?"
"With all my heart." Harry walked over to Draco, wrapping an arm around his waist, turning them around to face their intruder. "Oh, hello, Aunt Petunia. How did you get in here?"
"I heard raised voices and saw the open door. I thought there was a break in." She looked back and forth between the two boys. "I'm sorry if I interrupted anything."
"Oh, no, not at all," Draco cooed. "Harry and I were just having a lover's quarrel, I'm sure you know how it is. But it's all right now. Would you like to come to dinner tomorrow?" He asked as politely as he could, trying to keep down a snigger. "I would ask you today, but we need to finish moving in. As you can see we're nearly there. No need to procrastinate."
"I'll talk to Vernon."
"Good." Draco smiled like a lion about to pounce. "I look forward to meeting my fianc's uncle."
Harry started to snort, but caught himself in time to turn it to a cough. His fiancé? He leaned over and kissed Draco full on the mouth. It was a forced, chaste kiss, but had the desired affects.
Draco finally shut up, and Petunia stuttered, "I'll, er, just be going, then."
Harry pulled away when he heard her stumbling down the stairs. He untangled himself from Draco and followed her to the door, closing, and locking it after her. He turned around to glare at Draco, who had followed him. "I was trying to get rid of her!" he explained.
"Uh huh. Whatever," Harry muttered.
"I'll sleep on the floor, Harry, to make it up to you."
"Are you sure you're a Malfoy?"
"I wish I wasn't. Anyway, time for bed, we have breakfast with Mrs. Figg at 6:30 tomorrow morning, and we'll need to figure out what the hell we're going make for dinner if your aunt and uncle turn up."
"They won't, but best to be prepared. And we're supposed to be protecting the residents of this area as well."
Harry levitated his suitcase up the stairs, and pulled out the Puddlemere athletic shorts Ron had given him for his last birthday as Draco came up the stairs carrying his suitcase on his shoulder. "You know, for someone with as many muscles as you have, you use them very seldom."
"Sod off, Malfoy," Harry snarled as he began to change.
"You're really in a foul mood today. What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong. Absolutely nothing."
He's hiding something from me. This revelation hurt him more than he could have ever known possible. "All right, Harry."
Draco pulled out his Puddlemere sweatpants, and quickly changed, then grabbed a blanket from a shelf in the closet, and proceeded to make a fairly comfortable bed on the floor. He held out his hand and summoned one of the pillows on the bed to him. He tried to sleep but couldn't.
This was just a repost after I noticed some errors. To those who muddled through them and still thought it was good, thank you very much.
