GOOMM

by Angel Nat-Chan

Harry finally gets around to doing something he'd been putting off...

Author's Note: Rated T just in case. Title is an initialism of the song that first inspired this fic - but since its only is only in the first section, didn't both to list the entire thing. Well, enjoy!

'Hey you, it's me again.'

'Hey you, you haven't written, I guess you're still busy.'

'Please talk to me, whatever's wrong, you know I'll help you out.'

'How will I know, if you won't say, what this silence is about?'

''Cause I'm going out of mind, and I don't think it's fair.'

'The least you could do is to talk this through.'

'I'm going out of my mind over you.'

'Just when things seem to be fine, you changed and didn't care.'

'Guess I think more of you, than you do of me, and that's not how I want to be.'

Harry gazed at the letters spread out before him, phrases from each jumping out at him. With a great sigh, he picked up a quill and held it over a blank piece of parchment.

'Dear Ginny.

'I'm so sorry I haven't written before now.' He paused, a drop of ink splashing onto the parchment. 'But I didn't know how to write this.' Another pause, as he glanced over her letters again. 'I realise that my silence hasn't been fair to you, I should have written, even if to say I was thinking how to talk to you.'

He stopped, and held the quill away from the parchment so it wouldn't drip again, as he decided whether to continue, or begin anew. Deciding to continue, he set the quill over the parchment once again.

'I can't do this, can't be with you. I realise how unfair this is, after asking for you to wait for me. The war is over now, and you had every right to expect us to pick up from where we left off, but'

He sighed, again contemplated scrapping the letter entirely, but realised he could rewrite it a thousand times without articulating what he wanted to his satisfaction. He started a new paragraph.

'You deserve better, Gin. You deserve to have someone as perfect for you as your Dad is for your Mum. That isn't me Gin. I wanted it to be, I really did, but it's not.

'Please don't hate me. Just, please, move on, find love, and be happy.

'Wishing you all the best, Harry.'

Harry glanced at the sealed envelope bearing Ginny Weasley's name. He was being far too cowardly. It had taken him far too long to even get around to writing the letter than he should have done, and now he delayed sending it.

"Kreecher!" he called before he could change his mind.

"Yes Master?" the aged elf asked as he appeared with a crack.

"Could you please deliver this letter to Ginny Weasley for me?" he requested.

"Of course Master," he replied.

"And I'm not receiving visitors," Harry added as he stood.

"Yes Master," he acknowledged with a bow. He plucked up the letter and disappeared with a crack.

Harry dashed up the stairs, ignoring the shrieks of Mrs Black, and locked himself in the library. He knew he was being cowardly, but he just couldn't face anyone. Hopefully Kreecher would return before anyone could use the Floo.

Within minutes he heard a familiar crack and breathed a sigh of relief. Kreecher would turn away anyone that came. Harry could be alone, for as long as he wanted.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

The Floo activated. "My Master is not receiving visitors," Kreecher stated, even as he recognised the blonde that entered the Kitchen.

"No matter," he drawled. "I'll see him regardless," he stated. He made his way further into the property, and opened the library door. "Hello Potter," he greeted as he settled opposite the brunet, who glanced at him startled.

"I'm not receiving visitors?" he said, unable to help the questioning lilt.

"Oh, I heard," he drawled, leaning back comfortably. "But do you really think that would be enough to deter me?"

"I suppose not," he murmured, and nodded to Kreecher, who withdrew, shutting the door after himself. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting," he replied with a smirk. "We have things to say, you and I."

"You're welcome for the return of your wand." Draco inclined his head. "What are you still doing here?"

"Visiting," he repeated. Harry let out a huff, causing the blonde to laugh softly. "I was surprised to not hear your name in relation to any of the projects to rebuild," he murmured.

"Because I realised that I would be more of a hindrance than a help," he stated. "They'd be too busy focussing on me, to make any decent headway."

"That is true," the blonde acknowledged. "But then why are you hiding?"

"I'm not hiding!" he protested. The blonde's eyebrows arched. "I'm not," he insisted.

"What do you call locking yourself up in your estate, and receiving no visitors?"

"Taking some 'me time'."

Draco snorted. "You're hiding, not only from the Wizarding World as a whole, but also those who care for you. Why?" he demanded.

"Why should I tell you?"

"You won't let anyone else in."

"I didn't let you in."

"No, I let myself in, and you refused to expel me, which amounts to the same thing. Why would you let in your school rival, and not your best friends?" Harry opened his mouth. "You both said no visitors, so you haven't been letting them in either," he pointed out. Harry's mouth snapped shut with a click. "Harry," he said softly, "we've seen each other at our worst."

Harry covered his face with his hand. "I couldn't face anyone," he admitted softly. "Well, except for Kreecher, and he kinda comes with the estate." He let out a huff. "That's not fair. He's a decent enough Elf, and lives to take care of me."

"And if you stay here, with him looking out for you, your loved ones are more likely to let you retreat?" the blonde finished.

"Yes," he admitted softly. "What happened with your parents?"

"With your testimony, myself and Mother were pardoned. Father faced a trail, but given the entirety of circumstances, incarceration was deemed unnecessary. Instead, a fine had to be paid, as well as giving a specific amount of his time toward rebuilding."

"Community service?" Harry asked with a small smile, lowering his hand.

"I suppose that is an apt description," the blonde murmured. "Mother and I joined him for the requisite number of hours, which are now over. Father discovered he quite enjoyed it, and has continued to do so. Mother also realised she liked helping, as so has begun volunteering at St. Mungo's; there are great number of patients there that have no family to visit them."

"And you?" he asked curiously.

"I could almost understand why you've been so noble." Harry let out a short laugh, surprise written across his features. "I said 'almost'," he pointed out, lips curved upward. "There was a sense of accomplishment in repairing that which I had helped to break," he admitted.

"But?"

"Continuing to do so held no appeal, nor did sitting with the sick and wounded."

"So instead you decide to torment me?"

"It is entertaining," he teased with a true smile, before he turned solemn. "You need someone." The brunet opened his mouth. "Other than your House Elf, who will leave you be as long as you eat and drink," he said firmly.

"I don't want company," he said softly.

"What you want, and what you need, are very different things," he stated.

"So how long will you continue visiting me?"

"Until I decide that you no longer need it."

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Draco entered the library the following day, and found tea set out on the table. His eyebrows quirked.

"Slytherins keep their word," Harry said with a shrug. "And I figured you'd come about the same time as yesterday…" he trailed off, eyes averted, as he magically fixed the blonde a cup of tea.

"Well this is certainly an improvement," he drawled as he settled opposite the brunet. He accepted his – perfect – cup of tea with a nod.

"Hit me with it," the brunet invited, taking a sip of his own tea. The Slytherin's eyebrows rose. "You're bound to have thought of questions, or topics you want to discuss, since your last visit. Go ahead."

"Are you always so forthright?"

"You know me enough to know the answer to that question," he replied, helping himself to a biscuit. "I have no inclination for – or skill with – subtlety, and waiting is most often worse than an event itself, so it's best to get it over with."

The blonde chuckled softly, accepting a biscuit from the proffered plate. "I noticed that you were dating Miss Weasley," he began and the brunet blinked. "You were not as…discreet…as you might have thought. I also understand why you broke off the relationship; it would make her a greater target to the Dark Lord and his followers." The brunet nodded. "So why have you not picked up the relationship, now that you are both safe?"

Harry gazed into his cup, swirling it gently. "I couldn't," he admitted softly.

"Could it be, that now you have had time to reflect, you realise that you wanted her for something other than her charms?"

Harry glanced up, before his eyes returned to his cup. "A way to be an official part of the Weasley family?" he spoke softly. "How long have you known?"

"Longer than you," the blonde replied gently. "I was on the outside, it is easier to see."

"Like the fact that all the blood-supremacy rhetoric was a load of bollocks?" the brunet asked, suppressing a smile.

"Quite," he replied easily.

"There is one thing I was curious about," Harry murmured.

"Only one?"

His lips curved upwards. "Did you know who Voldemort truly was?"

"In what way?"

"Who he was, before he remade himself," Harry continued. "Not his personality, or mental instability, but his background – and blood status."

"Why?" the blonde asked suspiciously.

"That's a 'no' then," the brunet mused, draining his cup, and pouring himself another with a flex of his magic. "Refill?"

"Harry James Potter, tell me what you meant this instant," the blonde ordered.

Harry blinked at the Mrs Weasley tone, but paused what he was doing to meet the blonde's eyes. "Lord Voldemort, before he took on that title, was a boy by the name of Tom Marvolo Riddle, a charming Slytherin, with a witch mother and muggle father." Draco blinked. Harry raised his hands and 'TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE' appeared before the blonde in glowing letters. A flick of his fingers, and they rearranged to 'I AM LORD VOLDEMORT'.

"How do you know this?" he breathed.

"He told me, in the Chamber. Second Year," he added.

"I did not need to reminder," he remarked drolly. "Why would he tell you?"

"I was dying at the time, and Ginny was hardly suitable for him to gloat to since she was unconscious as well as dying," he informed, rubbing his shoulder absently. Draco blinked. "Fawkes," he added.

"Phoenix tears," Draco murmured in understanding.

"You're quicker than Tom," the brunet stated. "He only remembered that after Fawkes had already cried over my wounds. Bit slow on the uptake, at least when it came to stopping actions that would help me. Too arrogant, I think. Or muggles are on to something with 'evil sows the seed of its own destruction'," he mused, refilling the blonde's tea. The blonde raised an imperious eyebrow. "You look like you need it."

"Well, I have just discovered that the facts I thought my life were based on, were false," he stated, taking a sip.

"I know how you feel," Harry murmured, ducking his head and taking another sip.

"Oh?"

"Ihadnoideamagicwasreal," he admitted in a rush, voice low and embarrassed.

"Truly?" The brunet nodded. "What about your accidental magic?"

He looked up. "I knew strange things happened around me, but I had no idea I was causing them."

"Like?" It was the brunet's turn to raise his eyebrows. "Everyone causes different incidents with accidental magic, I am curious as to what yours was."

"Erm," he hedged, casting his mind back. "I turned my teacher's wig blue," he stated. "And I caused an ugly jumper to shrink every time my Aunt tried to pull it over my head. Oh, and there was the time I ended up on the school roof," he listed, eyes turned inward. He did not notice Draco's shocked expression. "Not to mention, the time I…caused the glass on a Boa Constrictor's display case to disappear when my cousin had his face pressed against it," he added. He blinked at the blonde's continued shock. "What? I know Fred made Ron's bear turn into a spider – which is where his arachnophobia comes from – and Neville bounced down the street." He pulled a face. "I thought it was a bit…borderline abusive that his uncle was hanging him out the window by his ankles, even before I found out he dropped him."

Draco's expression turned to one of distaste. "I agree with you there," he admitted. "Far too extreme an action, even if a child is a late bloomer." He regarded the brunet solemnly. "I take it, those were not the only instances?" Harry shook his head. "I was surprised, because most do not have quite so many, nor do they do such…dramatic actions."

"You call turning a woman's wig blue, or shrinking a jumper dramatic?"

"The wig, no," he replied easily. "And if you had only shrunk the jumper once, rather than repeatedly, then I would not count that one either. Most would only shrink it a great deal once, not a bit several times-"

"That just seems like poor planning, not a dramatic gesture," Harry interrupted.

The blonde smiled. "Regardless of that, you must admit that transporting yourself to the roof of a building is rather dramatic?" Harry blushed. "Not to mention causing a pane of glass to disappear, at the exact moment it would most…distress your cousin." Harry's blush deepened. "And wasn't there an incident before our third year?" Harry's entire face flamed. "What was it? I never did find out."

"I blew up Aunt Marge," he muttered. "I mean, inflated, not exploded like Seamus."

"Why are you more embarrassed by that?"

"Because I should have control of my magic," he muttered.

"'Should have' not 'should have had'?" the blonde queried. "Do instances like that happen to you often?"

"When I lose control of my temper," he confessed softly. "I destroyed everything in the Headmaster's office after Sirius went through The Veil," he stated without feeling. "He told me he understood how I felt, and I lost it."

Draco placed his hand over Harry's. "This will probably mean little to you, but those instances are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of strength, magical strength. Only the most powerful can do it." He released the brunet's hand. "Even your trick with the tea can only be done by those on the higher end of the magical spectrum."

"It's not that difficult to levitate a teapot," Harry protested.

"Without a wand, and with little focus?" he countered. Harry ducked his head, but did not deny the point. "I often wonder if growing up in the magical world doesn't cripple our children," he admitted. The brunet's head tilted curiously. "Yes, we have a greater knowledge of the Wizarding World as a whole, than those raised in the muggle world, but all of you have not been told from a young age what is and isn't possible."

"In telling a child something cannot be done, do you cause them to be unable to do it?" Harry mused.

"Exactly," Draco said. "By not being told it isn't possible to disapparate without training, were you able to transport yourself onto that rooftop by wishing it?"

"I only did it once-"

"In great need, before you came to school and began to learn about different forms of magical travel," the blonde interrupted. "But the fact remains that you did it. You did the impossible – again – and the level of your power cannot be the only reason for that. It makes me wonder if it is because of your lack of knowledge of the wizarding world until you were eleven."

"I'm still ignorant about a great number of things," Harry pointed out.

"Well, I wasn't going to mention that," the blonde teased, causing the brunet to let out a soft laugh.

Harry smiled. "Well, it's an interesting theory, but there isn't really a way to prove it, is there?"

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Draco entered the library, and found tea and treacle tart waiting for him. "I've upgraded," he remarked as he settled opposite the brunet.

"You like it, don't you?" Harry asked with a smile, magically pouring the blonde a cup of tea.

"You know very well it's my favourite," he drawled, sliding a plate toward himself. "Just as I know it's yours."

"And how would I know that?"

"The same way you know how I like my tea," he spoke, taking a sip and letting out a pleased hum. "Do you have an idea how long it took my friends to pick that up?" Harry shook his head, making the blonde chuckle softly. "Longer than you, I would wager."

Harry hummed, before having a sip of his tea. "So what's the topic for today?"

"Why are you indulging me?" Harry blinked. "Regardless that you know my character well enough to know I would continue to come back-"

"No matter how many times I kicked you out," Harry interjected.

Draco smiled. "You do not have to answer," he pointed out. "If you chose to, you could out-stubborn even me. So why do you indulge me?"

"The path of least resistance?" Draco waited, and drank his tea. "Maybe because you were right, and what I needed was different from what I wanted," the brunet spoke slowly. "Or maybe because I needed to talk about it, even if I didn't know it."

"So is there anything you need to talk with me about, that you do know?"

"How would you feel if you caused the death of the person you cared about most in the world?"

"Devastated," he answered honestly.

"So how would you deal with it?" he asked, averting his eyes.

"First, by explaining to the person willing to listen why you think it's your fault."

"I know it's my fault!" he retorted hotly.

"Then explain it," he replied, voice and face expressionless.

"I'd have to explain more than that," he hedged. The blonde gestured for him to go ahead, starting on his treacle tart. "In fifth year, I wasn't taking remedial potions," he spoke softly. "I was having Occlumency lessons." He glanced at the blonde and away again. "I had a mental connection with Voldemort," he admitted. "I used to get dreams from him, memories or what he was doing." He sighed. "Dumbledore decided I needed lessons in Occlumency, before Voldemort discovered the connection and tried to make use of it."

For several moments he said nothing, gaze vacant, lost in memories. He shook himself, and had a sip of tea. "It didn't go well," he said blandly. "Snape got into my head every time, and I never managed to block the connection, though that did have its advantages ultimately."

He made a sound of frustration. "I used the connection this last year, by accident and by design, and Christmas fifth year, I saw Nagini attack Mr Weasley, so they found him in time to give him treatment. But the reason I was so determined to leave school fifth year, was because I'd had a vision of Sirius in the Department of Mysteries, in danger." He blew out a breath. "It was a trap, and several members of the DA went with me into it. Members of the Order, including Sirius, had to come rescue us." He took a deep breath. "Sirius got into a duel with Bellatrix, she hit him, and he fell into The Veil," he said, the horror of that moment still fresh, in his voice and in his eyes.

He startled as he felt Draco's arm around his shoulders. He leant into the touch thankfully, pressing his face against the blonde's shirt. Draco shifted so he hugged the brunet properly, stroking his hair. "I'm so sorry," he breathed sincerely, rocking the lion as he began to sob.

Draco held him until Harry's tears abated, and the lion pulled back sheepishly, ducking his head. He returned to his seat. "I'm sorry you had to relive that," he spoke gently. "But I fail to see how it was your fault."

"If I hadn't gone-"

Draco held up a hand. "Can you honestly tell me, if you were in the same situation – given a vision you were unsure true or false, of a loved one in danger – you would make a different choice?"

"No," he admitted softly.

"You went into danger for a loved one, and so did he. He would have had more of an idea of the danger than you," he pointed out. "Do not cheapen his choice by feeling guilty."

"His choice?" Harry asked in a small voice.

"He decided that your life was more important to him than his own, and that is commendable."

"I'll think about it," he promised. He scrubbed his face free of any remaining wetness. "So what do you do with yourself, when you're not pestering me?"

"Whatever strikes my fancy."

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Harry tapped his fingers on the table impatiently. With a huff, he got up and strode to the kitchen. He threw a pinch of Floo powder into the fireplace. "Malfoy Manor," he declared in a strong voice, and with a deep breath, thrust his head into the flames.

"Can Dippy be helping you Sir?" a squeaky voice asked.

Harry smiled. "Is Draco in residence?"

"Yes, he is Sir," she replied.

"Is he taking visitors?"

"Yes Sir."

"Thank you," he said with a smile and withdrew. He brushed himself free of soot, and looked at his clothes with fresh eyes. "Kreecher, let me know if anyone comes, please," he asked.

"Of course, Master," came the reply to Harry's retreating form.

The brunet made his way to his bathroom, and hopped in the shower, washing his hair thoroughly. After a quick dry, he dashed back to his bedroom and locked the door. Paranoid habits died hard, he thought as he began rummaging through his clothes.

"You've hiding away for long enough, little brother!" twin voices yelled through the door. "Are you going to drop the spell, or are we going to have to break it?"

"Give me a minute!" he yelled back, pulling on his choice before he released the spell. "I was getting changed," he stated as they entered.

They let out twin whistles. "What's the occasion?" they teased.

"I'm going out," he replied, looking at his hair with a sigh. "As if I'd go to Malfoy Manor looking anything but my best," he added absently. "What do you think?"

"Hold still," they said, smiling. With quick flicks of their wands, Harry's hair was dry and somewhat tame.

"You'll have to tell me how you did that," he murmured, pleased at the results. They hummed absently. "There's tea for two in the library," he stated. "Help yourselves."

They grinned, and gestured for him to precede them from the room. He was aware of them following to the kitchen, though they said nothing. "Good luck!" they said, grinning as he took a pinch of Floo powder.

He rolled his eyes, and said in a clear voice, "Malfoy Manor!"

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Harry returned to Grimmauld Place, and followed his feet to the Library, unsurprised to find the twins waiting for him. Along with a substantial plate of sandwiches. "Even stasis charms aren't enough to make a hot meal taste good after a while," they explained.

He nodded and settled opposite them, pouring them each a cup of tea magically. "No other plans for today?" he asked, picking up a sandwich without prompting.

"Made sure not, didn't know how long it'd take to knock some sense into you." They grinned at him. "We didn't realise someone else had already started." Harry sighed. "So…?"

He sighed again, and quickly ate the sandwich. "He's been coming the past few days, at the same time. We talk. It's helped," he admitted.

"And?"

"And he didn't show up today. He hadn't said he wouldn't come today, and when he was late, I checked with the Kitchen Elves at Malfoy Manor." Their eyebrows rose. "I asked if he was there and taking visitors, and the answer was positive. So I made myself presentable and went to him." He sighed again and their pointed looks. "He'd begun a research project after he left me yesterday and lost track of time. I think he'd been up all night," he murmured, concern in his voice. Fred and George smiled at him knowingly. "What?"

"It's just that-" Fred began.

"It's curious-" George continued.

"The only one you let in was Draco," they finished together.

"He let himself in, I just didn't bestir myself to kick him out."

"Same thing."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I knew he'd be back no matter how many times I kicked him out, so I figured I may as well save the energy. How's Ginny?"

"Better now you've sent her a letter," they replied. He flinched. "She wasn't surprised," they assured. "She was worried about you, just like we all were." They made sure he was looking at them before they continued. "She told us, that even if you had asked to get back together, she would have gently said no." He blinked. "She realised that the two of you weren't right for each other, but also thought it was better if you came to that realisation by yourself."

"Huh. Well, I shouldn't be surprised. Hermione always figured relationship stuff out before me, it makes sense that Ginny would too." He glanced at them then away. "Is she happy?"

"Well, if you mean, has she found the love of her life, then no. But she is keeping an open mind on who he might be."

"Looking outside of Gryffindors now?" They nodded. "Good. It's not always wise to have a match in your own House, too much in common sometimes. Gotta watch you don't get two hot-heads together."

"And yet you know of lion-lion relationships that worked," they murmured.

"Your parents have disparate personality types, even though they were from the same House, and by all accounts my parents were the same. But I can think of many of our peers that would have been disastrous together."

"You have a point little brother," they agreed.

"How's business?"

"Good. But now we know you're in a good mindset, we have some ideas to run by you."

"Shoot."

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Draco joined Harry in the library, and Harry rose, concern clear in his expression. "Come with me," he urged, leading the blonde up a flight of stairs.

"Where are we going?" he asked curiously.

"My room," he replied absently as he led the snake through that doorway. He hopped on the bed while Draco looked around curiously. "I won't bite," he promised, patting the space beside him.

"Is that a muggle phrase?" he asked as he removed his boots.

"Yes," he answered easily.

"Why are we here?" Draco asked as he sat beside the brunet.

"You haven't slept much, if at all, since your last visit here," Harry stated. "I understand how obsessing over discovering something can make you neglect taking care of yourself, but trust me, it isn't good for you. You need to sleep," he said firmly. "And this is the only room I can guarantee is fit for guests," he added sheepishly.

"And will you be joining me?"

"If you want me to, or I could go," he added, starting to rise.

"Stay," he replied as he lay down.

"Okay," Harry replied with a smile as he lay down facing the brunet.

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Harry woke up turned away from the blonde with Draco wrapped around him. He smiled and shifted until he was more comfortable. Draco hummed and tightened his hold. Harry felt the moment the blonde woke up, though the fact he released him was also a clue.

The brunet shifted until he was facing his companion. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," he replied with a smile. "And you?"

"I needed that as much as you," he replied with a wry smile. The blonde raised his eyebrows. "I have a problem with insomnia," he stated. "Why do you think you keep finding me in the library?" The blonde's eyes narrowed. "When I can't sleep, I go there and read – got into the habit of doing it during the day too. Figured I may as well learn something, as lay there tossing and turning pointlessly," he remarked, shrugging a shoulder.

"Nightmares?"

"Had this problem for years. But now I don't have dormmates to disturb, and a curfew keeping me contained to a single area."

"Not that that stopped you."

Harry grinned. "I was known to wander from time to time, but you were there the only time I got caught – well, got caught by a teacher that wouldn't let it go."

"Special treatment?"

"Ensuring I had information they wanted me to have," he replied slowly. "For good or ill," he added with another wry smile. "I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn't been Harry Potter."

"Boring," the blonde replied with a grin. "Though far less traumatic, at least until final year," he added.

He hummed an agreement. "I might not have survived that final year, if my life had been different. Without my skill in DADA, I might have died in the battle."

"You have enough morbid thoughts, without going down that path," the blonde chided. "I should probably-"

"Stay as long as you like," Harry interrupted. "I don't stand on ceremony, and I don't really care what social protocol or convention dictates the length of your stay should be."

Draco gave him a true smile. "That is refreshing. Do you mind if we stay here? I'm rather comfortable," he added with an almost wicked curve of the lips.

"Not in the slightest," he responded, stretching lazily before curling up into a comfortable position. "One thing I can say about the Blacks, they didn't skimp on creature comforts." He blinked. "Another muggle phrase."

"That one I do know," he replied. "This wasn't how I saw this visit going," he remarked slowly.

Harry grinned. "But you can't argue that you feel better for it, can you?"

"I wouldn't try," he answered honestly. "And I am satisfied that you got something you needed out of it too, even if it was sleep rather than conversation."

"You also saved me a lecture from the twins," he informed. The blonde's eyebrows rose. "They were all set to yell, spell or lecture as appropriate yesterday, until they found me ready to visit you," he stated. "They were pleasantly surprised, and instead of receiving a lecture, I had to give answers. Of the two, I prefer the latter. It's rare they channel their mother, but when they do it's scary."

He laughed softly. "Glad I was of some use."

"You've always been useful," he replied before tensing.

"Harry?"

The brunet sighed. "It wasn't until after…everything…that I realised how much I needed someone who treated me consistently. It wasn't pleasant to think you hated me, but at least you weren't being sycophantic to Harry Potter."

"I never hated you," he spoke sincerely. "Pride injured, mad at, jealous of," he listed, "but never hatred."

"You were someone safe I could be mad at. Not that I wasn't genuinely pissed at a few of the things you said or did. How do you feel about wiping the slate clean?" The blonde blinked. "Yeah, you crossed the line a few times, but so did I. Personally, I think I gave as good as I got. So?"

"I would like that," he replied slowly.

Harry grinned brightly. "Good. I look forward to not planning to hex you."

Draco snorted. "The planning was mutual," he stated. "Although that wasn't all that I planned," he murmured, expression still.

"Didn't mean to say that one?" He shook his head. "Sleep deprivation will do that to you. I recommend getting actual sleep, at the appropriate time, from now on."

"I will heed your advice."

HPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDMHPDM

Draco walked into the library at Grimmauld Place and found Harry waiting for him, smile welcoming. "You look better," he spoke warmly.

The blonde's gaze flicked over him before he settled opposite. "You don't," he murmured. "Cleaner than when we first started," he conceded, "but still drawn. Still not sleeping?"

"Insomnia is a fact of life," he stated with a negligent shrug. "You get used to it," he added flippantly as he magically poured the blonde a cup of tea.

"How long have you had this problem?" he asked curiously, accepting the cup with a grateful smile.

"Not sure," he answered honestly. "I only really became aware of it in third year. Not aware," he mused, "I was aware that I slept less than my dormmates before that point, I suppose that was when I acknowledged that I had a problem sleeping."

"And when you took to wandering?" he guessed.

Harry snorted. "I was wandering the corridors of Hogwarts at night since first year," he stated. Draco nearly choked on his tea. "Extenuating circumstances."

"Of course," the blonde drawled, voice only slightly hoarse.

"Would you like a potion? Mrs Weasley keeps me well-stocked."

"No thank you," he replied, taking a sip of his tea. "All better," he drawled.

Harry grinned. "It's not often I catch you by surprise. At least not visibly."

"I've known about the odd time or two, when you wandered for a purpose, but I didn't realise you were doing so consistently when you were as young as that." Harry's eyebrows rose. "Since you are being so honest with me, I suppose it's only fair," he murmured. "I have always been curious about you," he stated. "Not about Harry Potter, but about Harry," he stated. "I knew the story, of course, but I was never really bothered about the legend," he spoke, rolling his eyes.

The brunet hummed. "Well, unless you have other topics you want to discuss, I can tell you about what I actually got up to?"

"You would do that?" the blonde replied instantly, before frowning.

Harry grinned. "Stop me if you already knew the details," he requested. "Well…"

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Draco looked at him from across the table. "Your life was harder than I ever guessed," he stated. Harry lifted a shoulder in a shrug. "Do you mind if I stay the night?" Harry's eyes widened. "I know if I go home, the temptation to continue with my project will overtake me," he admitted.

"You don't need to justify the offer," Harry stated and leant over, squeezing the blonde's hand firmly. "I was just surprised. Of course you can stay – although-"

"Your guest rooms aren't fit for purpose?" he guessed.

"Yeah," he admitted.

"I can live with that, if you can."

Harry stretched his arms above his head. "I'm actually feeling a little tired," he murmured, surprised. "Fancy turning in?"

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"I'm surprised at you," Draco drawled as he entered the library. Harry's eyebrows rose. "You've never once asked me about my project," he elaborated.

"I figured you would talk about it if you wanted to. Tea?"

He shook his head. "It has finally come to fruition," he stated proudly, and gestured to the doorway. Harry's attention shifted to it dutifully. Sirius entered and his godson stilled. "I would not be so cruel," Draco drawled.

"I know," he reassured as he shook himself. He rose cautiously.

Sirius closed the distance between them in seconds and pulled his godson into a fierce hug. "You're not dreaming," he promised and Harry returned the embrace.

"I shall-"

"Stay," Harry spoke immediately, meeting the blonde's gaze over his godfather's shoulder. "Please," he entreated. The blonde inclined his head, and settled at the table, studiously making himself a cup of tea and ignoring the pair of lions.

With a flex of his magic, Harry turned his armchair into a sofa, and tugged his godfather down onto it. "Thank you," he spoke earnestly to the blonde, leaning into the embrace when Sirius wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

He lifted a shoulder and took a sip of his tea. Harry scowled, and Draco hid his smile behind his teacup. "It was something I could do to help," he remarked casually. "Feel free to ask your questions."

"Did it hurt you?"

"No," he spoke firmly. "You saw the worst of what it did to me. It barely took any magic," he stated.

"The ambient magic of The Veil," Harry murmured.

"That, and the Department of Mysteries is that saturated with it," the blonde continued and had another sip of tea.

"How did you know how to do it?"

"I knew I had come across references to The Veil in our Library somewhere, just had to hunt them all down and put the pieces together."

"What can I do to repay you?"

"You're already doing it," he stated and Harry blinked. "You're enjoying having him back," he spoke with a smile. "And Sirius," the blonde continued, levelling a look worthy of Mrs Weasley on the Animagus, "you had better have a long life after this."

"I second that," Harry piped up. "I want my future children to know you, if not grandchildren."

"I'll do my best," the Animagus replied with a smile. "And before you ask, it's officially known, and I told Molly – she's giving us some time alone together. But the three of us have to go to Sunday dinner."

"Three?" Draco and Harry parroted.

The Animagus grinned. "She wants to show you her appreciation, Draco, for giving her a member of her family back," he stated. "If you don't show up voluntarily, she'll drag you," he added cheerfully with a broad grin.

"No," Harry protested, "she'd get Fred and George to do it." Sirius laughed. "She knows they're inventive enough to get around Slytherin defences."

"Good thing I was planning on accepting the invitation," Draco murmured.

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"So," Sirius drawled with a grin, "going to tell me about Draco?" Harry's eyebrows rose. "You've talked about everything but how your current interactions started," he pointed out.

"I thought he might have explained it to you," Harry murmured.

"He's a Slytherin," he deadpanned, causing his godson to laugh softly.

"He decided – after they'd finished their family community service – to visit me."

"And?" he demanded.

He lifted a shoulder. "I don't know, he decided I needed to talk to someone, and it helped."

"Merlin, getting details from you is like trying to pull teeth," he groused. "Have you shared anything beside conversation?"

"Erm kind of," he answered. He got a flat look from his godfather and grinned before becoming serious. "He hadn't slept, so I took him up to my room – wasn't sure of the state of the guest rooms – and he asked me to stay. We slept beside each other, and when I woke up, he was spooning me. He stayed another night – so he wouldn't be tempted to skip sleep to continue to work on his project," he added. "Oh, and there was an inadvertent confession."

"Which was?"

"Erm, we'd just declared a truce, and were joking about not needing to plan to hex each other anymore, and he said 'although that wasn't all I planned'."

"How did you react to it?"

"Didn't," he stated. "Figured by how he tensed he didn't mean to say it, so glossed over it." He lifted a shoulder. "I know how mortified you can be when something slips out you didn't want."

"And how would you have reacted, if that wasn't his reaction?"

"Curiously." Sirius snorted. "I would have asked at least one question – but if he'd shut me down, I would have left it at that," he answered honestly. "Looking forward to going to The Burrow tomorrow?"

"Yes," his godfather replied with a grin. "Looking forward to seeing Draco there?" Harry blushed. "Thought so," he murmured. He wrapped an arm around his godson's shoulders. "Don't despair, I'd say you have reason to hope."

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Draco followed Harry and Sirius through the wards of The Burrow nervously. "She won't bite," Harry teased. "She's protective of her family, but other than that she's lovely. Unless you do something wrong," he added.

"You're not helping," Sirius teased before walking through the open door. Harry gave Draco's hand a squeeze before following his godfather, aware of the blonde following after him.

"Sirius!" Molly greeted warmly and pulled the Animagus into a fierce hug he returned.

"Good to see you too Molly," he murmured.

"Good to have you back," she spoke warmly as she drew back. "The family is finally all together," she murmured happily and tugged a willing Harry into a hug. "You won't be missing any more family dinners, will you?" she asked pointedly as he returned the embrace.

"Not if I can help it," he answered honestly, smiling as she released him.

"Draco," she greeted warmly and pulled the startled blonde into a fierce hug he couldn't resist returning. "Thank you for bring him back to us."

"You're welcome," he breathed, then cleared his throat.

She pulled back to smile dotingly at the blonde. "Everyone's out back, if you want to join them?" she invited, smiling at the trio. "Dinner won't be long."

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"You survived your first Weasley family dinner," Harry teased.

"Yes, it was-" the blonde cut off and stared at the brunet. "First?" he repeated.

"She'll expect you to come to all the others now," he stated. "Want to process at ours?"

"Please."

They crossed the ward and soon transported themselves to Grimmauld Place. "Kreecher!" Harry called. The Elf appeared with a crack, bowing deeply. "Tea for two in the library please."

"Of course Master," the Elf spoke differentially before disappearing with a crack.

By the time the two of them were settled, Kreecher had joined them. He laid the tea, cups, and plates of treacle tart on the table, bowed, and retreated, closing the door after himself.

"All?" Draco repeated as he accepted his cup of tea.

Harry grinned. "You can try to resist if you like, but every time she sees you, she'll bring up how she'd love you to join them on the next dinner," he remarked casually before taking a sip of his tea. He met the blonde's gaze over the rim. "She's very good at wearing people down."

"But surely-"

"Once you've been invited, it's an open invitation," he stated.

The blonde blew out a breath. "Good thing I enjoyed it then," he murmured, before taking a sip of his own tea. "I saw you and Ginny disappear for a private moment," he remarked, and Harry inclined his head. "Well?"

"It was the first time we'd seen each other since I sent her the break-up letter," he stated. "It went better than I thought actually – but then she was just waiting for me to come to that conclusion for myself."

"You didn't change your mind and get back together then?"

"No," he spoke with a grin, "that ship has sailed."

"What?" the blonde prompted after a pause. Harry hummed curiously. "You thought of something after that," he stated.

"There's another ship on the horizon I've got my eye on," he retorted. Draco snorted elegantly. "Now you know why I wasn't going to say it."

"Anyone I know?" he asked casually.

"Yes," he replied, and hid a grin behind his teacup.

"Well?" Harry raised his eyebrows. "Who is it?" Harry carefully placed his cup back on the saucer as he shook with silent laughter. "What's the joke Potter?" he drawled.

"For a Slytherin you're being quite dense," he stated. The blonde's eyebrows arched. "You," he stated and the blonde blinked. "You are the person I'm interested in having a relationship with," he continued. "Honestly, I thought you were interested in me too, but if I was wrong-"

"You're not wrong," the blonde interrupted. "You just surprised me," he admitted wryly. Harry's eyebrows rose. "I wanted it too much to trust my judgement on the matter."

"Fair," he conceded. "So where do we go from here?" he asked curiously.

"Very little difference I would say, since we spend a great deal of time in each other's company now."

"And touch?" he asked, voice deliberately neutral.

"We can share as much or as little touch as you want," he answered honestly. Harry blushed, and Draco's lips curved. "That much?" Harry ducked his head and nodded, face still flaming.

"Well," Draco drawled reaching across the table to link their fingers, "why don't we start small, and go from there?"

Harry glanced up at him from under his fringe and gave Draco's fingers a squeeze. "Sounds good."