Author's Note: Rated T just in case, enjoy!
Draco walked into the ministry gala with his head held high. He was aware that murmurs started among the guests, and that more than one person glared in his direction. He kept his Slytherin mask in place, he would not be chased from this event – he had just as much right to be here as everyone else.
"Draco," Harry spoke and the blonde turned, "will you join me for a dance?" His eyebrows arched. "I have to dance," the brunet spoke with long-sufferance. "I'd prefer a partner that'll make sure I don't make a fool of myself."
His lips curved. "And what makes you think I wouldn't deliberately let you do so?"
"As if you could ever let anyone see you as anything less than perfect," he replied softly. "Please?"
"Do you mind if I lead?"
"Honestly?" Harry replied with a grin. "I'd prefer it."
HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM
Draco's eyebrows rose at finding Harry at the gates of Malfoy Manor, but he let the brunet in regardless. He soon had the lion settled in one of the parlours. He poured the brunet a cup of tea before sitting back with his own. He took a sip, and met the gaze of the hesitant lion across from him. "Yes?" he drawled.
"Would you be my dance partner at future events?" he asked in a rush.
"Only a dance partner?" he drawled.
Harry ducked his head with a blush. "Well, I had thought about asking you to be my date, but wasn't sure if you'd go for it," he admitted. He glanced up. "Or the implications that would go with it."
"And if I was?"
He blinked. "Really?" he breathed.
Draco's lips curved in a smile. "You were pleasant company, and we would both get something out of the arrangement. You a decent dance partner – and a way to fend off those that would approach you to be your date – and I would have a shield against the ill-feeling so many still have for me and my family." Harry ducked his head, and the blonde hummed. "I wondered if that was why you asked me to dance," he drawled.
"I was honest about why I asked you," he spoke hastily. "I just knew that if you said yes, it would stop someone from confronting you."
"Can't have that," he spoke deadpan.
"No," he agreed fervently, "you and your parents went through trials the same as everyone else. And your father paid back his debt to our society." He ducked his head. "I thought it was nice and you and your Mother went with him on his community service."
"A show of familial solidarity – and Mother and I are aware that the only reason we were not sentenced to such ourselves, was because you interceded on our behalf."
Harry ducked his head. "I only made sure the truth was known about how the two of you helped me."
"Why?" he asked curiously.
"Because what so many forget, is that there are many that did nothing, even though they didn't agree with what was going on around them. Those people kept their heads down, and hoped they wouldn't be targeted – and that someone else would take care of the problem for them," he huffed. He shook his head, and met the blonde's gaze. "I think it says something, that when a moment presented itself to help me, and by extension the Rebellion, both you and your Mother took it."
Draco lifted a shoulder. "We are both grateful to you," he stated.
"You both saved my life," he replied easily, "it was the least I could do."
"You saved mine," he pointed out.
Harry waved that away, and Draco's eyebrows rose challengingly. "I think of that as balancing out when I nearly took it," he spoke, voice deliberately neutral.
The blonde hummed. "Would you like dance lessons before the next gala?"
"Please."
HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM
"Why didn't you tell us you were dating Malfoy?" Ron demanded.
"I'm not, officially," Harry defended.
Ron opened his mouth and Hermione held up a hand. "Officially?" she repeated.
He blew out a breath. "You know I hate dancing in public," he stated, and Ron nodded. "But I agreed it was necessary," he added hastily, and Hermione nodded. "And I didn't take a date, so I was trying to figure out who I could ask, and I saw Draco walk in. He's the ambitious sort of Slytherin, he would make sure he knew to dance before coming to an event like that, and by extension, would make sure I didn't make a fool of myself."
"While acting as a shield against the negative attention he was receiving," Hermione commented knowingly.
"All right, that was part of my motivation," he huffed. "Anyway, I went to visit him, and asked if he was interested in being my dance partner at future events-"
"Just a dance partner?" she interrupted and he smiled. "What?"
"That was exactly what Draco said," he replied and she smiled. "Anyway, I hadn't asked if he'd by my date, because I wasn't sure if he would be comfortable with the implications, and he is, so he's going to be my date to future events. And he's giving me dance lessons."
"That can only help your confidence," Hermione stated.
"Do you want to be dating him officially?" Ron asked bluntly. Harry blushed. "That's a yes mate." He ducked his head and nodded. "He'd be an idiot not to want you," he stated, and Harry looked up.
"It's encouraging that he agreed to be your date," she piped up. "While it's true there are advantages to him, it's unlikely he would-"
"Take the risk of painting a target on his back for just that?" Harry finished. She nodded.
"And he's too honourable to agree to date you unless he truly wanted to," Ron stated. "So when you ask, you don't have that worry."
"When I ask?" Harry repeated.
"It'll bug you eventually mate, so you'll have to."
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"Why don't we take a break," Draco suggested, releasing his hold on Harry and pausing the music, "while you tell me what's on your mind?"
"On my mind?" Harry repeated.
"Do you really want me to list the clues or will you simply take my word that I know it's the case?" Harry pulled a face but nodded. Draco regarded him for a moment, before sighing. "Come back tomorrow."
"What?" he gaped.
"You clearly aren't comfortable voicing whatever it is yet, and we won't get anything productive done-"
"Do you want to date me?" he asked in a rush. Draco's lips curved and he blushed. "Sorry, was trying to think of a better-"
Draco covered his mouth with gentle fingers. "I know you, this is just the way you would feel compelled to go about this," he reassured as he lifted his fingers. "And," he continued with emphasis when the brunet opened his mouth, "yes."
"Yes?" he repeated.
"Surely you know I wouldn't say so if I didn't truly want to?" he drawled.
"Ron reminded me of that," he spoke hastily. "Just wasn't expecting it." Draco's eyebrows arched. "I thought the signs were just wishful thinking on my part," he admitted softly.
Draco's lips curved. "I think I need to prove to you my desire," he drawled, lips curving further as Harry shivered. He dipped his head and kissed the lion.
He lifted his head and Harry pressed his lips together. "Could you do that again?" he breathed. The blonde hummed, before wrapping a possessive hand around the back of Harry's neck, taking the brunet's mouth in a claiming kiss his lion eagerly responded to.
When he pulled back, they were both breathing hard. "Okay," Harry breathed, causing Draco to chuckle. "We'll still have dance lessons, right?"
Another chuckle from the blonde, followed by an affectionate peck. "Of course love," he replied as he wrapped a possessive arm around his lion's waist. He smiled as Harry leant into the touch. "Whenever you wish."
