This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books , and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Word Count: 1273
Title: Not So Sweet Sixteen
Note: AU! Sirius and Remus live, Soulmate AU
Warnings:
Beta: DarylDixon'sgirl1985
Quidditch League:
[Team]: Ballycastle Bats
[Position] Seeker
[Theme]: Your soulmate's name is printed on your wrist.
[Theme] Quidditch Supplies
[Prompts]:
[Theme]: Book Club
[Prompts]:
[Theme]: Pokemon
[Prompts]:
Hogwarts
Assignment 2:
Seasonally:
Quarterly:
Writing Club:
Oracle Challenge:
Fortnightly:
1:
2:
Auction: Song: Lost in the Woods- Frozen 2
When Harry finds out who it is, he initially hides it because he doesn't know if their friendship can handle the next step.
It was hard befriending the Slytherin, he was so uptight, he insisted he didn't care about anyone, and Draco and Hermione were constantly bickering about something or other, but Harry managed to juggle them, as well as Ron, without anyone feeling left out. Being Harry Potter sure was exhausting.
"Harry," Draco said, shaking Harry from his musings. "What are we going to do?"
"What?" Harry said, having lost track of the conversation.
Draco sighed dramatically. "About the whole Death Eater thing," he repeated in a whisper, eyes flickering nervously around the library as if someone would sneak up on them.
"We will figure it out, I'm sure your dad won't go through with it until you turn sixteen, at least," Harry reassured him, despite the nervous butterflies threatening to burst from his ribcage. He knew the risks of being friends with Draco, it had become clear even in their first year. There was a fine line between them, one they needed to keep them both as safe as possible.
Neither of them spoke about things to do with the war, secrets about who needed to kill who, secrets Harry hid about being destined to die at Voldy's hand, about the Horcruxes… Harry shuddered.
"Another secret?" Draco asked, his face was paler than usual, and despite not being able to ask, Harry knew it was getting worse for him too.
Harry just nodded.
"You aren't going to the Dursley's this summer, are you?" Draco asked.
Harry knew it was out of concern for him, and also probably a wish that they weren't on opposing sides of a coming war.
Harry shook his head.
"I hope it's better than home," Draco said softly, a small smile tugging at the side of his lips.
When Harry walked into Grimmauld Place, he went to look for Sirius immediately. He wondered what Sirius would say about his crush. It was becoming more and more clear to Harry, every second away from Draco he wondered where Draco was and what he was doing.
"Sirius?" Harry called out when he reached the top of the staircase.
"In here," Sirius called. Harry opened the door to the antique study and saw Sirius bent over a large book.
"Hey Godfather," Harry grinned.
"How was the train ride?" Sirius asked, closing the book in front of him.
"Good, good," Harry said. "What's that?"
"We will talk about it, but not right now, it's nothing compared to what you need to deal with," Sirius grimaced.
"Right, um, Sirius," Harry started slowly. "I think I have a crush on someone."
Sirius's face split into a grin. "Well, I suppose that makes this relevant after all," he patted the book. "Sit down, Harry."
Harry sat down in a old red armchair facing the desk and wondered if this was meant to be a sex talk, and let out a strangled laugh.
"Um, Sirius, I don't need that kind of talk," Harry blushed.
"Oh, no this isn't about sex, although, I'm sure if you want to know about straight sex I know enough to give you some tips."
"I'm gay too, Sirius."
"Thank Merlin," Sirius exclaimed. "But anyway. This book is about your soulmate mark."
"Soulmates?"
"Yeah, everyone in the Potter line gets their soulmate's name appearing on their wrist when they turn sixteen," Sirius paused. "Which means that this crush, despite feeling right now, isn't worth pursuing."
"It's not that simple anyway," Harry sighed.
"The Malfoy boy?" Sirius guessed. Harry was sure the redness on his cheeks confirmed it.
"How did you and Remus's soulmate bond manifest?" Harry asked. He knew they used to be best friends during school and only got together after the death of Harry's parents.
"Well, for us, it was a mindshare, that's how Remus knew I didn't betray them," Sirius fussed with his sleeve, feeling uncomfortable with discussing that night.
"But why only then?"
"Remus denied me for ages, said he was too dangerous to be around anyone, that he didn't deserve happiness," Sirius admitted.
"And when that happened," Harry paused. "You too realised life is too short?"
"Basically," Sirius agreed.
"Fascinating."
Harry woke up on the morning of his sixteenth birthday rubbing his eyes and felt a sting on his wrist. It took him a few minutes before he realised what it meant- it was the mark, the soulmark. He tried his best not to look, but he only held out a few seconds before he was looking at the writing that appeared in cursive on his right wrist. Draco Malfoy
"Oh shit," Harry said. He sat up in his bed just as Ron appeared with a gift and a Slytherin behind him. It was clear the two of his friends had just been bickering, but he had bigger problems. He couldn't tell Draco, not with everything else going on.
He started running as soon as his legs touched the floor, he needed to get to Hermione to help him conceal this.
"Harry? Where are you going?" Ron called out. "We brought presents!"
"Bathroom!" Harry shouted over his shoulder and he heard Ron shrug, apparently accepting this lame excuse.
Once Hermione taught him a concealment charm, despite her objections that "the stupid blond git deserved to know the truth", he felt a little more comfortable seeing his friends albeit a couple of days later.
Harry couldn't help it, he wanted to be around Draco all the time, so he went to him at the Slytherin table during breakfast. "Hi," Harry said.
"Happy birthday," Draco said softly, a small smile tugging at the ends of his mouth. "Want to go for a walk?"
Harry nodded, grabbing a slice of toast off Draco's plate, causing the Slytherins to glare at him. Draco ignored it, and the two of them left the great hall.
Harry was sitting beside the lake, feeling his heart rushing as Draco took out a small box.
"It's just something small," Draco said. "I'm not very good at this, and I never saw you again on your birthday.."
Harry opened the box to reveal a titanium ring that seemed plain at first glance, but then he noticed the engraving on the inside of an infinity symbol.
"It's really, wow," Harry said.
Draco laughed. Harry's wrist tingled, and he rubbed at it, sighing.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked. He could always read Harry like a book.
"I don't think we should be friends anymore," Harry said, almost choking on the words.
"If you don't like it…" Draco started.
"It's not that," Harry insisted. "I don't think I can stand seeing you get hurt."
"But Hermione and Ron are in just as much danger! You are being so stubborn, Potter!" Draco insisted, voice rising in annoyance.
"You're different…"
"Because I'm Slytherin? My father?" Draco demanded.
Harry sighed and dropped the enchantment, revealing his wrist to Draco.
"No, you're different, because, without you, I have nothing left to lose."
"You idiot! You have been hiding a soulmark from me?"
"It doesn't change anything," Harry almost sobbed. "I'm going to die."
"Don't say that! You need to win this! So many people count on you, I…" Draco broke off.
"The point is, I deny the bond, I can't do this to you, you never chose this life," Harry said softly.
"You idiot, I chose you, don't you see?" Draco whispered.
Harry stood up, shaking his head, feeling his heart break with every step he took away from the man he loved. If he lived, he would explain, he could take the crying man into his arms and comfort him, but for now, there was nothing left to do but to walk away from him.
