Chapter Two: Slytherins
Disclaimer: Me no ownie.
Warnings: Blowjob, frottage. Language.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Next time I'm on a computer (which won't be till after I'm no longer sick as a dog), I'll try to reply to everyone! :)
I really wanna be with you (be with you)
But I gotta be real with you (real with you)
I can't leave you alone (no)
And I know I'm living wrong.
But I can't let you go
Can't Let You Go - Fabolous
August 31st, 1998
"Harry."
A pair of arms slid around his waist, and he relaxed into them. Draco dropped his chin onto Harry's shoulder, and Harry nuzzled the blond's cheek with his forehead.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hey yourself." Draco held him for a few minutes, and he leaned back, enjoying the contact. "So you know how all the eighth years are being put together in the North Tower, two to a room?"
"Mmhmm?"
"Well, I spoke to McGonagall today. Talked about how you and I were friends now, and inter-house unity, and all that. And she decided to put us in a room together." Draco's tone was smug. Harry burst out laughing.
"That's so sneaky!"
Draco smirked. "Slytherin, remember?"
"My Slytherin," Harry purred.
Draco chuckled. They stood in comfortable silence for a few minutes.
"Have you told anyone about us?"
Harry blinked. He hadn't; he hadn't been sure how to go about it, and figured the conversation would be best held in person, but now he wondered if Draco would be angry.
"No," he admitted. "I was going to do that after they got here, tomorrow."
"Don't."
Harry straightened and turned. He shot Draco a puzzled look. "Why not?"
Draco chewed his bottom lip. "My parents don't know that I'm gay," he said finally. "I'm not ready to tell them yet. If it gets out-"
"Ron and Hermione won't say anything," said Harry firmly.
"Harry, please." Draco looked at him beseechingly, and Harry saw real fear in his boyfriend's eyes.
"Alright," he sighed. "I won't say anything until you're ready."
Draco smiled, clearly relieved. "Thanks, Harry." He dropped a kiss on Harry's lips.
Harry smiled, and wrapped his arms around the Slytherin. Draco hugged him back and he hummed contentedly.
September 1st, 1998
"Harry!"
Harry found himself with a mouthful of bushy hair as Hermione launched herself into his arms. He chuckled and hugged her back. He'd waited outside the castle for an hour for his friends to arrive, and while the other students around them were streaming into the castle, heading for the feast, he and his friends stopped to catch up.
"Geeze, mate; I'm jealous. She never hugs me like that," teased Ron, eyes twinkling. Hermione shot him a baleful look.
"Well I haven't had to go months without seeing you, Ronald, or you would get hugs like that." She sniffed. "Besides, Harry's practically my brother."
"I know, I know; I'm just teasing!" Ron raised his hands in supplication.
Harry grinned at the two of them. "I've missed you both so much!"
"And we've missed you, Harry." Hermione's smile was warm. "It's so good to see you again!"
He grinned at them broadly.
Hermione's gaze turned slightly accusatory. "You barely wrote to us; even though we wrote as often as we could! We didn't even get to see you on your birthday!"
Harry hung his head. He'd begged them not to throw a party for him this year on his birthday, and they'd reluctantly agreed. In doing so he'd managed to skive off going to the Burrow and avoid Ginny.
Something he wouldn't be able to do any longer.
"Harry!"
Just as suddenly as he'd ended up with an armful of Hermione a moment earlier, he now ended up with an armful of Ginny.
"Err, hey, Gin," he said awkwardly.
"We'll leave you two to catch up," Hermione said, winking at him. She grabbed a protesting Ron and dragged him off.
"Harry," Ginny murmured into his shoulder. "I missed you."
"Yeah. Me too," he lied. It wasn't technically a lie, he told himself. He would have missed her, if not for being so anxious about the impending discussion about their relationship.
"You didn't write to me at all!" she looked up at him accusingly, and he swallowed.
"I'm sorry. I just… had a lot of stuff going on."
"You still found time to write to Hermione and Ron once in a while!"
"Well, they're my best friends!"
It was the wrong thing to say. He knew it the moment the words were out of his mouth, and he winced. Ginny pulled back and scowled.
"And I'm your girlfriend!"
"You were my girlfriend," he corrected quietly. "We broke up over a year ago."
"Because you had to fight Voldemort, and because you wanted to protect me!"
"Yeah," he acknowledged. "But things change, Ginny."
She stared at him. "What are you saying, Harry?" she whispered.
He shifted. "I'd rather not do this here."
"Do what here? Break up with me?" her voice dripped sarcasm.
"We broke up over a year ago!"
"But we belong together, Harry!"
"Ginny, we only dated for a few weeks."
"That doesn't matter. You know no one will ever love you like I do, Harry. No one. Not ever."
"You can't know that, Ginny!" Harry was beginning to lose his temper. What he had with Draco might have been going on for only a month; but it felt deeper and more real than anything else ever had in his whole life. For Ginny to insinuate that what she felt for him transcended that felt a little insulting.
"So, what? You don't want to be with me anymore?"
"No!" he shouted.
She slapped him. Hard. Then she let out a sob and ran off towards the castle.
"Well you could have handled that better," Harry muttered to himself. He let out a sigh, raked his fingers through his hair, and trudged off to the Quidditch pitch. He needed some air.
September 1st, 2017
Scorpius Malfoy would always remember the moment he fell in love.
He was walking down the corridor on the Hogwarts Express, when a boy stepped out of the compartment in front of him. The boy looked up, and all Scorpius could see were his eyes.
His green, green eyes.
Scorpius had never seen such beautiful eyes.
The boy's lashes were long and dark, dusting across lightly tanned skin. He had messy black hair and glasses, but Scorpius barely noticed those things, so captivated was he by those eyes.
He needed to be friends with this boy.
He held out his hand. "Hi! I'm Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy."
The boy's lips twitched and he giggled. "Sorry," he said. "But your name might actually be even weirder than mine!"
Scorpius was stung. This boy was laughing at him, at his name. He opened his mouth to retort with a stinging reply and started to withdraw his hand, but the boy spoke first.
"I'm Albus Severus." He held out his hand, grasping Scorpius' and giving it a shake. "Us boys with weird names ought to stick together." He smiled brilliantly, and just like that, Scorpius was lost.
He smiled back, feeling unaccountably shy. He tried to rein it in – after all, he was a Malfoy; and Malfoys are not shy – but he couldn't help it. This boy somehow had brought him to his knees.
"That sounds good," he said lamely.
"Brilliant," said Albus. "You can call me Al."
Scorpius felt warmth spread through his chest. "I don't have a nickname," he admitted.
"What about Scorp? Or Score?"
"I kind of like Scorp," Scorpius said, after a moment's reflection. "Score sounds like I'm a Quidditch term."
Al laughed delightedly. "I'm going to like you," he said decisively.
Scorpius beamed.
"So, you didn't tell me your last name," he prompted. He wanted to know everything about Al.
"It's Potter," replied Al.
"Potter?" Scorpius asked wonderingly. "Like Harry Potter?"
"He's my dad." Al looked somewhat puzzled. "Why?"
"My dad says he's a great man," replied Scorpius. Al's smile returned in force.
"He is," Al agreed. "He's the greatest dad in the world."
Scorpius bristled. "My dad's pretty great, too, you know. I think he's the greatest."
Al chuckled. "I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree," he said. He shot Scorpius a crooked grin. "Wanna come sit with us?"
"Us?"
"Me an' Rose. She's brilliant; you'll like her. She's really smart."
A pang of jealousy shot through Scorpius. "I'm really smart, too," he said, puffing out his chest a little. Al chuckled.
"I'm sure you are. But come on; I wanna introduce you to my cousin."
At the words, "My cousin," relief coursed through Scorpius, though he couldn't say why. He smiled back. "Sounds great!"
He followed Al back into the compartment.
September 1st, 1998
Harry sat underneath the Gryffindor Quidditch stands, his head resting on his knees. He felt drained and frustrated. He hadn't meant to tell Ginny like that. He hadn't meant to lead her on.
But he'd been too much of a coward to come right out and tell her when he first realised he didn't want to be with her anymore, and now he'd bollocksed everything up. Again.
He felt like an awful person.
It didn't help knowing that his best mate was going to want to kill him for making Ginny cry. Not only for refusing to get back together with her after she'd waited for him, but for doing it the way he did.
Ron was already going to be pissed enough over the fact that Harry and Draco were not only friends, but roommates.
Bugger.
By now, half the school probably knew that he'd unceremoniously dumped Ginny on the Hogwarts' doorsteps. If not because of Ginny's theatrics, then because there had still been plenty of students around when it happened.
Bugger, bugger, bugger.
He closed his eyes and silently appealed to Merlin to keep it out of the Daily Prophet.
He was suddenly glad that Draco had asked him to keep their relationship a secret. Now was definitely not the time to tell anyone.
"I thought I'd find you here."
Harry whipped his head up, startled.
Draco smirked. "Scared, Potter?"
Harry snorted.
Draco flopped down beside him, somehow managing to make the gesture look graceful and refined. The blond was so effortlessly sexy, it was astounding. Harry flushed and looked away, embarrassed to be getting turned on at a time like this.
Wordlessly, Draco handed him a napkin with a chicken leg and a roll wrapped in it. Harry accepted them gratefully, scarfing them down quickly.
"So it's all over the school that you very ungraciously broke up with the she-weasel on the school steps," Draco drawled. "I didn't realise you were still dating."
"We weren't," Harry rolled his eyes. "But she was waiting for me, and to her, that amounts to the same thing." He sighed, and rubbed his temples. "I was planning on telling her gently. But she kept trying to insist that we were still together, or that we belonged together, and that no one would ever love me as much as she did. I got mad at her."
He buried his head in his hands. "I bollocks everything up, Draco."
Draco snorted. "Sounds to me like she deserved it."
Harry rolled his eyes. "You would say that. You don't like her."
Draco shrugged. "She's never given me a reason to like her," he said. "Besides, I hear it's only normal to hate your boyfriend's ex."
Harry chuckled. "You're a prat."
"And you love it," Draco smirked.
Harry looked sideways at him and thought, Yes. Yes, I think I do.
His heart fluttered just a bit and he smiled. He hoped he didn't look too sappy.
Draco quirked an eyebrow at him. "You know, I followed you out here for a reason, Potter," he said, and damn if the way he drawled the word "Potter" didn't make Harry's groin stir. He told it to be still.
"To cheer me up, I imagine," Harry responded. "Which you're incredibly good at, despite being such a git."
Draco chuckled. "Ah, but do you know how I planned to cheer you up?" he asked, his voice low and sultry.
Harry's mouth was suddenly very, very dry. Visions of the grinding and handjobs they'd shared over the last month whenever they'd been able to sneak away alone together flitted through his mind, and his groin stirred again. He silently reminded it that he'd told it to be still. As usual, it didn't listen very well.
"How?" he squeaked, and cursed his traitorous voice.
Draco just chuckled again; a throaty sound that did nothing to alleviate Harry's growing discomfort.
"Why don't I show you?" he purred, and before Harry knew it he'd been rolled onto his back, with Draco on top of him.
"Okay," he managed a very manly squeak, and Draco snickered.
He captured Harry's lips in a kiss, and when Harry gasped Draco's tongue snaked into his open mouth.
Harry moaned and their tongues slid together, the two boys eagerly exploring one another's mouths. Harry thought he must have already mapped every inch of Draco's by now, yet he couldn't help the frantic desire to retrace his path and do it all over again. The blond seemed to feel the same.
Harry wound his fingers through Draco's fine, white-blond hair. The blond moaned in appreciation as Harry's fingers massaged his scalp.
Draco's hands were running up and down the length of his body, and the two boys ground against each other, groaning as one hard length brushed against another through the cloth of their trousers and jeans.
Draco fumbled with Harry's zip and his cock twitched in anticipation of another handjob. He reached for Draco's buttons, but Draco batted his hand away, and finished undoing his jeans. Draco pulled out of the kiss, and Harry whimpered involuntarily. He tried to draw his boyfriend back in, but the Slytherin was having none of it.
"I want to try something," he said, a trifle breathless. Harry hesitated.
"We shouldn't do anything here. Someone might see us."
"I put up silencing spells; not to mention misdirection spells, Harry," Draco smirked. "Anyone who comes out to the pitch will suddenly be filled with a burning need to get a headstart on their schoolwork." He chuckled. "I'm gonna create an army of Grangers."
Harry smothered a laugh. "Prat," he said, smiling.
"Will you let me? Try something?"
Harry nodded his assent, and Draco motioned for him lift his hips. Harry did so and Draco drew his jeans and pants down, pulling them to his ankles. He sat there a moment, staring at Harry's cock hungrily.
"Merlin, you're beautiful," he murmured. Harry flushed, both from the praise and the scrutiny. This was the first time Draco had actually seen him without pants, and he felt a little bit self-conscious. Then Draco leaned forward and licked the head of his prick, and Harry cried out.
"Fuck, Draco; fuck!"
Draco smirked. "Thought you might like that." He bent down again and this time, he licked a stripe from the base of Harry's cock to the tip. Harry clawed the ground and gasped.
"Ohhhhhh, Merlin," he groaned. "Draco!"
Draco chuckled, his breath blowing across the wet skin where he'd just run his tongue, and Harry shivered at the sensation. Then he took Harry's prick in his mouth, and Harry arched back, gasping and mewling as Draco ran his tongue along the head of his prick.
He'd never felt anything like it before, and Merlin! It was bloody amazing.
Then Draco took him deeper, and he cried out again at the sensation of his cock being enveloped by that hot, wet mouth.
Draco bobbed his head, working the base of Harry's cock with his hand while his tongue did obscene things to the shaft. His teeth scraped a couple of times, and his movements were somewhat awkward, but Harry thought it was brilliant. The most brilliant idea Draco had ever had. Draco was now the god of all brilliant ideas. Harry was going to build him a goddamn shrine.
He twisted and writhed until Draco, held his hips down, locking him in place. He moaned loud and long. He didn't know what to do with his hands; one minute, he'd be running them through Draco's hair, the next, he'd be clawing at the ground and mewling as Draco did something particularly nice with his tongue.
It didn't take too long before his balls began to tighten, and he tugged at the fine blond strands. "Draco," he gasped. "I'm gonna-"
He came crying out Draco's name. Draco choked a little, but tried to swallow anyway. Harry's orgasm felt like it lasted forever.
He'd never come so hard in his life, and after it was done he whimpered, while Draco gave his softening cock a few last, light licks.
"Merlin, Draco," he panted, eyes fluttering shut. "Merlin."
Draco crawled back up to kiss him, and as their tongues danced Harry tasted himself in Draco's mouth; bitter and salty.
Breaking the kiss, he gestured down. "Do you want me to…?"
Draco flushed. "I already came," he admitted. "That was really hot."
Harry chuckled, and pulled his boyfriend in for a kiss.
"You're brilliant, you know."
"I know."
September 1st, 2017
Al chewed his lip nervously and watched his new friend, Scorpius, as he walked up to the Sorting Hat. Scorpius had told them on the train how he hoped to be a Slytherin. They had told him how they hoped to be Gryffindors. But all of them had become fast friends rather quickly, and were filled with an intense dislike of the idea of being in different houses.
That's when Al shared his father's secret. He hoped his dad wouldn't mind.
"So you can just ask to be in Gryffindor," he said triumphantly. But Scorpius didn't look overjoyed. He looked scared.
"My parents will be really disappointed if I'm not in Slytherin," he said sadly. "I don't think I can, Al."
Al and Rose were silent for a moment.
"Then we'll just have to be in Slytherin with you!" he declared. Rose looked scandalized.
"Al! Do you know what my dad would say if I was sorted into Slytherin? What about your dad? What would he think?"
"That Slytherin house had gained a fine new student," answered Al proudly. "He told me so before we got on the train. I was worried that I might get sorted into Slytherin, and he told me it wouldn't matter. That one of the men I'm named after was a Slytherin, and he was the bravest man Dad ever knew." He paused. "He also said that Slytherin might need people like me to improve its image."
Silence followed this statement.
"Well," Rose said thoughtfully, a gleam coming into her eyes. "It would be pretty funny to see Dad's reaction if I sorted Slytherin."
She and Al exchanged glances, and burst into giggles. Scorpius sat there, looking confused.
The two of them turned to him.
"If you sort Slytherin, Scorp," said Al.
"We'll ask the Hat to put us there, too," finished Rose.
Scorpius' face had split in a huge smile. Forgetting everything his father had taught him about being dignified, he threw his arms around the necks of his two new best friends.
"Thanks," he whispered. "I'm really happy."
The two of them laughed and hugged him back.
Al held his breath as the Hat was placed on Scorp's head.
This was it.
The moment of truth.
"Slytherin!" the Hat called out, and Al smiled as he clapped along with everyone else.
It looked like Slytherin house would be gaining not only a Malfoy, but a Potter and a Weasley as well tonight.
They wouldn't know what hit them.
September 2nd, 2017
"Harry!"
Harry looked up, startled, from where he sat at his desk in the Head Auror's office. He quickly slid his feet off the desk. Ron was standing in the doorway, red-faced and panting. His freckles stood out in sharp relief on his white face, and his red hair was practically standing on end. He grabbed a handful and tugged at it manically.
"Harry, it's awful. It's horrible! Something's gone terribly wrong! You have to go to Hogwarts!"
Panic flared in Harry's gut. "Is it James? Al? Are they alright?"
"It's Al, Harry. And Rose… sweet Rosie; my little Rose," wailed Ron. He staggered inside and grasped the edges of Harry's desk, scattering paperwork everywhere.
Harry's heart pounded and his vision swam. Al, he thought. Oh, no, Al. Rose.
"What happened?" he asked, struggling to keep his voice calm and controlled. He needed to know the facts. Then he would leave the Ministry, Apparate to Hogwarts' gates and run to the castle to see his son. But first he needed to know what had happened.
"It's awful, Harry; it's horrible! The worst thing that could happen!" Ron was in a state. Harry was feeling little better. The worst…
"Are they…" he couldn't finish. Dead? Oh, sweet Merlin, don't let them be dead.
He seized his best mate, his brother-in-law by the shoulders and shook him. "Tell me what happened, Ron!" He couldn't keep the panic out of his voice. Ron seemed comforted by the fact that Harry was now nearly as distraught as he was, and spoke.
"They were sorted!" he burst out.
Harry blinked, his arms falling limply to his sides.
"Sorted?" he repeated weakly.
Ron nodded, miserably. "Last night."
Harry stared.
Then he closed his eyes and reminded himself that no, he did not want to kill his best mate. Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys – including his wife – might not take kindly to the idea. Then there was the small matter of his being the head of the MLE. It would not do to commit murder, however good the provocation.
Would make it easier to hide the body, though, his brain supplied helpfully.
He sighed, and opened his eyes again. Ron was moaning, head in his hands.
"They were sorted," he repeated woefully.
"Well, that's usually what happens at the Sorting Ceremony," Harry said cautiously.
"Into…" Ron swallowed and closed his eyes. "Slytherin," he whispered, his voice fraught with horror.
Harry drew in a deep breath. "Ron," he said carefully. "Is that really the worst thing that could happen to them?"
Ron's head snapped up and he gazed at Harry with wide, startled eyes.
"You bloody well bet it is!" he said, voice quavering. "We need to go to Hogwarts and demand a resorting! They'll listen to you; you're the bloody Boy Who Lived!"
Harry closed his eyes again and rolled them heavenwards. Merlin, grant me patience, he thought. And the strength to avoid strangling my friend.
"Ron," he said calmly. "I'm not going to ask for a resorting."
"But… didn't you hear me, mate? They're in Slytherin! Slytherin!"
"I heard you," answered Harry calmly. "And I think that this might be the best thing to happen to Slytherin house for a very long time."
Ron's jaw dropped, and he moved it up and down vaguely for a few minutes, as if trying to remember how to work it.
"They'll be eaten alive," he whispered. "My baby girl; my poor, defenceless baby girl… at the mercy of all those… those snakes!"
Harry snorted. Rose Weasley was many things; defenceless was not one of them.
"They'll be fine, Ron." He eyed the redhead speculatively.
"'Fine', he says," Ron moaned. "Bloody hell, Harry; how can you say that when they're stuck down there with all those snakes?"
"It might do to remember that our children are those snakes, now, Ron," chided Harry.
Ron scowled. "You're worse than Hermione."
Harry grinned.
Later that day, when Al's letter arrived, he thought he'd already gotten the shocking news out of the way.
Then he read his son's letter.
And promptly spilled his tea.
Dear Dad,
Rose already wrote to Uncle Ron last night (she said she couldn't wait to get her Howler; I think she's crazy) and told him about being sorted, so you probably already know that I'm in Slytherin.
What you probably don't know is that we both asked to be there.
You see, we made a really good friend on the train, and he was going to be going into Slytherin all alone – at least, he thought he was probably going into Slytherin, because all his family have.
His name's Scorpius. Scorpius Malfoy. I think his dad knows you. He said his dad calls you "a great man".
Me and Scorp are roommates now. I think he's gonna be my best friend, Dad.
I remembered what you told me about Slytherin, and I hope you're proud of me, just a little.
I'm looking forward to being another good Slytherin.
Love,
Al
Harry sat there in shock. He read the letter again.
Scorpius Malfoy.
His heart clenched painfully.
His dad calls you "a great man".
Harry swallowed around the lump in his throat. He closed his eyes, and for long moments, he kept them shut while he struggled to get his emotions back under control.
I think he's going to be my best friend.
It seemed that, for better or for worse, Draco Malfoy was going to be a part of his life. Again.
He had no way of knowing that in a house in Wiltshire, a pale, blond man sat with his head in his hands, staring blankly at a letter of his own, his stomach churning just as much as Harry's was.
It wouldn't have made Harry feel any better if he had.
September 1st, 1998
Harry crept into the eighth years' common room. Draco had agreed to follow him up after fifteen minutes to avoid attracting suspicion. Harry hoped he could avoid a scene. After the incredible blowjob his boyfriend had given him outside, he didn't want anything to spoil his mood.
No such luck.
No sooner did he step through the portrait hole when a familiar voice yelled, "What the bloody hell are you playing at?"
Harry closed his eyes and tried not to sigh. Apparently they were going to have it out now. And apparently, all the other eighth-years were going to watch. "Ron." He turned. Ron's face was flushed, his blue eyes filled with fury.
"Do you know how long Ginny cried for, Harry? How could you just break up with her like that?"
"We weren't together anymore, Ron!" Harry shot back, annoyed that everyone was treating him as though he and Ginny had never broken up to begin with. "We were together for a few weeks and we broke up over a year and a half ago!"
Ron's face purpled. "How could you? Treating her like that? I thought you were better than that, Harry!"
Ron was seething.
"Ron," Harry closed his eyes. "I don't just like girls. I like blokes, too."
Ron's anger was temporarily halted by a combination of astonishment and confusion. "Wha-?" he managed. He shook his head, clearing it. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"I like blokes, but I could never be interested in you because you're too much like a brother to me. You know?"
Ron still looked irate and confused.
"It's the same with Ginny. I was confused and lonely; she was crazy about me, and I was desperate to be a part of your family. But she's like a sister to me and once I started being honest with myself, I had to admit that that's all there was to that. And yeah, I should have talked to her as soon as I realised that, but I didn't know what to say. And I didn't want to do it while staying at your house, because that would have made things really awkward. And it wasn't something I could send in an owl or do over floo, right?"
Ron appeared to be listening, though he still looked furious. "You didn't seem to care about her feelings tonight, though!"
Harry closed his eyes. "Ron, I didn't want to have that conversation with her on the steps, but she was the one who wouldn't let it go. She tried to insist that we were still together, and when I tried to be nice about things, basically told me no one else could ever love me so I couldn't break up with her." He opened his eyes and looked at Ron, his eyes hardening.
"I think I have a right to be angry about that. I think that anyone facing someone who would be saying things like that while claiming to love them would lose their temper and stop trying to be nice."
"She… Ginny wouldn't say that." Ron looked a trifle uncertain.
"She would, and she did, Ron." Harry's voice was flinty. "She knows the childhood I had just like you do, and was trying to manipulate me. I understand that she's hurting right now, so I didn't take her to task for it. But don't expect me to apologize to you for any of it."
He turned and made to stomp off to his bedroom, only to realise he had no idea which one was his, since he'd skipped out on the Sorting Feast in the Great Hall, where room assignments had been handed out. He slammed his fist into the wall in frustration, and gritted his teeth.
"Can anyone tell me where my room is?" he asked.
Ron cleared his throat. "Harry, there's something you should know… we're not rooming together. I talked to McGonagall, but she has all of this inter-house unity nonsense crap she was spouting off about, and she refused to change the arrangements."
Harry rolled his eyes, glad he was facing away from the redhead. Ron coughed.
"She put you in with Malfoy."
Harry sighed, running his fingers through his messy black hair. "I know, Ron."
Ron stared. "You know? How?"
"Because Draco and I became friends over the summer, and in the spirit of promoting inter-house unity, we asked to be placed together."
"You- what? What?" Ron's face grew apoplectic.
Harry rolled his eyes again. He didn't bother hiding the irritation in his tone. "Can someone who's not Ron please just tell me which room is mine, so that I can go lie down? I have a massive headache."
Seamus got up. "I'll show ya, Harry," he said in a quieter, more subdued version of his Irish brogue. Harry followed him gratefully, tuning Ron out as he left. He'd deal with Ron once he'd slept, and once his friend had calmed down. Inside his new room, he threw himself down on the bed and closed his eyes.
Merlin, what a mess, he thought. Once again, he was intensely grateful he and Draco were keeping their relationship a secret for now.
This wasn't the time to tell anyone.
September 2nd, 2017
Rose,
Are you alright? Have the snakes hurt you yet?
I'm so sorry. Maybe it's not too late to send you to Beauxbatons.
Your mother hit me in the back of the head when I suggested it, but I'll bring her round.
Don't worry. I'll get you out of that viper den, I promise.
Love,
Dad
September 3rd, 2017
Dad,
Oh my GODS Dad! Calm down!
I'm fine. No one's hurt me. They're actually incredibly friendly and I love it here.
I don't want to go to Beauxbatons. Mom, keep whacking him in the back of the head when he talks about it.
I AM one of those snakes now, Dad. And that's fine. I like being a snake.
Please don't try to rescue me.
Rose
September 3rd, 2017
Rose,
Obviously that last letter was written under duress. Who forced you to write it?
I'm working on your Mom, but she's awfully stubborn. Closed-minded, your mother is.
Enclosed please find something you may be able to use to escape.
Love,
Dad
September 4th, 2017
Dad,
I am NOT under duress. I like it here. My new friends are awesome. Please don't mention Beauxbatons again.
One really good friend I've made is Scorpius Malfoy. He's Al's new best friend. They're inseparable. He's really smart and funny and cute. The three of us go everywhere together.
And Dad? I know you love old muggle movies and everything, but a file isn't going to help me saw my way out of the dungeons.
Please just be happy for me.
Love,
Rose
September 5th 2017
Rose,
Scorpius Malfoy? Cute? You're scaring me, Rosie. Please stay away from him.
Don't worry, hunny. I'm going to save you.
Dad
September 6th, 2017
Dad,
Please stop trying to save me.
At least now you know I'm not being forced into anything.
Don't ever try to break into Hogwarts to rescue me again. That was just embarrassing.
I'm not writing to you anymore until you stop being so prejudiced and melodamatic.
Rose
Mom,
You have to stop Dad.
He tried to break me out of Hogwarts last night. He threatened my friend Scorpius and now Scorpius is terrified that Dad's going to come after him.
I don't have a crush on him. I called him cute to give Dad something different to worry about because I thought it would distract him from my being a Slytherin. It backfired.
Don't worry. I'm not thinking about boys yet. Tell Dad that and tell him to CALM DOWN.
Please stop letting him watch old muggle movies. He was stalking me in a trench coat and a fedora before Headmistress McGonagall made him leave.
How are you and Hugo getting on?
I love it here, except for the Dad-sneaking-in part.
Love,
Rose
September 6th, 2017
Rose,
Hugo and I are doing well. We miss you terribly.
I'm glad you're enjoying Hogwarts. I loved it, too.
It's good thay you're not thinking about boys. It would only distract you from your studies.
Have you started preparing for your exams yet? It's never too early to start.
Your father has been dealt with. Uncle Harry and I are sorting him out.
Love,
Mom
Weasel,
Stay away from my son.
I should hate to send the Aurors after you.
Threaten him again and I will eviscerate you.
D. Malfoy
Semtember 9th, 2017
Dad,
How are you and Mum and Lily? I miss you guys.
James is a pain and a bully. I wish you'd sent him to Durmstrang.
I love it here, though. Please don't ever do anything like Uncle Ron. It was hilarious but Rose was really embarrassed.
Poor Scorp is still terrified. I'm looking after him, though. He seems to be okay as long as I stick close.
Being a Slytherin is awesome. They have this whole code of honour you have to swear to when you come into the common room on the first day. I can't tell you any more than that because I'm not allowed.
Don't worry. It's nothing bad or Dark. Just loyalty and stuff.
Love to all of you,
Al
October 1st, 2017
Dad,
How are you guys?
Hogwarts is so cool. You were right - I love DADA. Professor Diggle is a little strange; he talks about you like you're the second coming of Merlin. But he's fair and a good teacher.
Charms is awesome, too. I'm really good at it. Professor Flitwick is so cool.
Neville -Professor Longbottom, I mean - is loads of fun. I'm not that into Herbology but he explains stuff really well and makes class pretty fun.
Scorp and I got James back for all the pranks he's been playing on us. For someone so good at Potions he sure isn't careful about what he eats. He stood up on the Gryffindor table and danced the entire first act of The Nutcracker on the table at supper.
Tell Uncle George we said thank you.
Give Mum my love, and tell Lily that she'd better be a Slytherin when she comes to Hogwarts. It's way more fun than being a Gryffindor. No offense.
Love you guys!
Al
November 5th, 2017
Dad,
I'm glad that you guys are having fun. I am kind of jealous that you guys went to a Quidditch match without me, though.
Speaking of Quidditch, Scorp wrote this hilarious song about James that we (all the Slytherins) sang when he played last. You should have seen the look on his face.
He still caught the Snitch, though.
Yes, you were right about him getting us back for the Nutcracker prank. No, I don't want to talk about it.
Tell Uncle George I said he's a traitor.
I'm almost head of my class in Charms and DADA. I'm tutoring Scorp in DADA and he's tutoring me in Potions. Rose is tutoring us in everything else.
Give my love to everybody, yeah?
Al
December 3rd, 2017
Dad,
Can't write much - Rose has me and Scorp on a crazy study schedule for exams.
She should have been a Ravenclaw. Except she's too devious and cunning. Maybe she sorted right after all. She probably would have been a Slytherin even without asking the hat.
Love all of you guys,
Al
September 15th, 1998
Harry was enjoying life.
He and Ron had finally patched things up, and he and his friends were enjoying spending time together again. He didn't get much time with Draco during the day anymore, though, and it was frustrating.
He missed his boyfriend.
Ron and Hermione – indeed, many of the new couples that had formed after the Battle of Hogwarts – were constantly together, smiling into one another's eyes, enjoying each other's company and the soft, occasional touches that set them apart as being couples from those who were merely friends.
Harry wanted that with Draco. He could spend time with Draco, but only as friends. It was nearly as bad as when he'd fancied Draco but thought it was all one-sided. Except now that he knew it wasn't, he wanted to announce it from the rooftops. Or at least, to be able to put his arms around his boyfriend when they were together, without worrying who might be around.
He wanted all the girls who hung around Draco to leave him alone, to stop touching him and flirting with him. He wanted to claim Draco in front of everyone.
He lived for the nights where they would ward the door and climb into each other's beds, talk in whispers and kiss and touch and bring each other off before sinking into a sated, blissful sleep.
He was waiting up for Draco, and had decided to discuss the possibility of telling his friends with the blond again. He wanted to be able to double date with them, even if no one else would know it was a double date. To hang out with them and still be able to slide his arms around his boyfriend; to kiss him, or be affectionate with him.
Draco finally came into their room, having detached himself from his Slytherin hangers-on. He shot their usual locking and silencing charms at the door over his shoulder and shrugged off his school robes. He folded them caregully and laid them on the end of his bed.
"Draco?"
"Harry." Draco turned, his smile genuine. He looked so happy to see Harry, it gave him butterflies. The blond crossed the room and kissed him deeply. Harry responded eagerly, bringing his arms up around Draco's neck and pulling him down onto the bed. They kissed for a few more minutes before Harry pulled back and rested his head against Draco's, closing his eyes and letting out a contented sigh.
"Can we talk?"
"What about, Harry?"
"I was wondering about telling my friends about us. I know they won't tell anyone, Draco. I swear."
Draco was silent for a few minutes. "So, you're saying that Weasley won't freak out and have a public fit over it, like he tends to do?"
"I'd tell him somewhere private."
"And he won't keep freaking out about it for a while after you tell him? He won't come after me, demanding explanations or possibly my head, whether I happen to be in a public location or not?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably. "Hermione, then," he started, but Draco cut him off.
"You're telling me she won't tell him, or won't guilt you into telling him."
Harry was silent again. He wanted to reassure Draco, but now that he thought about it, he couldn't be sure. While he had no problems with outing the two of them, Draco obviously did, because of his parents. And unless Harry could promise him that telling his friends wouldn't risk anyone else finding out, he didn't have the right to demand that they go public yet.
"How long do you think it'll be before you're ready, Draco?" he asked softly.
Draco was silent. "I don't know," he admitted. "A long time, maybe." He bit his lip. "Are you- do you want to break things off? I understand if you'd rather find someone else." His face and voice were a study in indifference, but his eyes were sad and frightened.
Harry kissed him softly. "Of course not," he answered. "I don't want anyone else. Just you."
Draco kissed him fiercely then, the two of them twisting against one another with Harry's blanket between them.
The hunger in the way Draco's lips attacked his told him how much Draco wanted him, needed him. That the longing Harry felt was in no way one-sided. He tried to convey that to Draco in his kisses, the way his body responded to his lover's.
Draco licked his neck, then nipped it, running his tongue over the bite and kissing it. Harry mewled. He didn't care that it would leave a mark; they were always careful to spell away any love bites in the morning before leaving.
Draco broke away and stood, shedding his shirt and trousers as he went. Harry's breath quickened as Draco pulled off his undershirt and pants. They'd spent some time experimenting with blow-jobs, enjoying the learning process together, but this time Harry had a feeling they were about to take things a little further.
Draco stood before him, pale skin gleaming in the moonlight from the open window, and Harry's breath caught. He was slender, but his muscles were defined; smooth biceps, hard pectorals, firm abs. All gleaming pale milky-white perfection, from his head white-blond head to his pedicured toes. The only exceptions to this were the silvery lines across his chest; mementos of Sectumsempra, and the pink of his cock, jutting from a nest of soft gold curls, erect against his abdomen.
He was beautiful; ethereal, an Adonis, and he was Harry's. Harry reached for him.
"Come here," he breathed. Draco smiled and slipped under the covers with him. Harry hesitated a moment, then slid his own t-shirt and pants off, while Draco smiled at him, lying on his side with his head propped up on one arm.
"No fair," he teased. "You saw me naked, and you're hiding under the covers."
Harry looked at Draco through long, sultry black lashes. "Maybe I am, so I suppose it's only fair that you feel me naked." He pulled Draco on top of him, rolling the blond so that he settled between Harry's thighs. They both gasped at the contact. Draco ground down, but it was so different from all the times they'd done this with their pants on.
This time the delicious feeling of skin on skin accompanied the usual sensations, and it made them heady with desire. They rolled their hips together, groaning as cock rutted against cock. Harry could feel the precome that leaked from the tips smear wetly against his stomach.
They frotted against one another. The ridges and veins Harry had felt along his tongue he now felt against his prick. The soft touch of Draco's skin coupled with the hardness and silkiness of his cock made Harry's head swim.
He opened his legs wider, straining for more friction; more sensation. He shifted just so to line their cocks up perfectly, and seized Draco's mouth with his own. They kissed passionately; frenzied by the desire that shot through them with each slide of skin against skin. Draco thrust his prick against Harry's, sliding along it and spreading precome between them.
Their tongues met, danced, battled for dominance. They gasped and groaned into one another's mouths as they moved together. Harry sucked on Draco's tongue, and Draco moaned like a three-knut whore.
Harry reached up between them, grabbing their cocks in a fumbling fist, rubbing the precome over them and making Draco moan again. Or maybe that was him.
He smeared the leaking fluid all over their cocks, fisting them awkwardly. They both moaned this time. Draco's hand joined his. Together their hands formed a narrow channel around their pricks and they both thrust up into it.
Faster and faster, harder, their vocalising getting louder as they neared the end, Harry felt that this was the most brilliant thing he'd ever experienced.
His balls tightened and he erupted with a cry, arching his back and coming across his abs, up onto his chest. Draco bit down on his shoulder and followed. Once his cock stopped spurting, he collapsed against Harry's chest and Harry wrapped his arms around his lover. Their bodies shuddered together, trembling in the aftershocks of their orgasms.
"Wow," he breathed when he was able to speak again.
"Wow," Draco echoed, then chuckled against his shoulder. Harry tightened his arms around Draco. Their come lay cooling between their bodies, but neither was inclined to move just yet.
Draco murmured in Harry's ear; all the trivialies of his day, and Harry murmured his own back. They lay quietly together for a while, before Draco began squirming and grabbed Harry's wand. With a flick of his wrist and an incantation he spelled them both clean.
"Hey, I didn't say you could use that!" Harry said in mock outrage. Draco bit him in response.
"Prat," Harry grumbled, and Draco's soft laughter made him smile.
They snuggled together, wrapped around one another, nuzzling each other's necks and exchanging gentle kisses.
They quieted, and Harry began to drift off.
"I don't want to lose you."
Harry opened his eyes. Draco's voice was low, and so vulnerable that it sounded utterly unlike him. Harry almost thought he had imagined it, but Draco continued.
"I don't want to lose you, but I need time. Someday... I promise, someday I'll be ready. I just need time."
Harry smiled. "I don't want to lose you either, you git," he said fondly. "And that's all I'm asking for. Someday. Okay?"
Draco kissed his shoulder and he kissed the blond's hair. Together they drifted off to sleep.
December 22nd, 2017
Harry stood with Ginny, Lily, Ron, Hermione, and Hugo on Platform 9 ¾'s, waiting for the Hogwarts Express. He pointedly ignored the fact that Draco Malfoy was standing a few feet away, pointedly ignoring him as well.
Which was fine.
Brilliant.
Harry was absolutely fucking miserable.
He was hyper-aware of the other man's presence, but fought to maintain an outward air of calm. He wouldn't give Malfoy the satisfaction of seeing how he could still affect Harry after all these years, and he wouldn't do Ginny the disservice.
So they stood there, pointedly not looking at each other, or acknowledging one another in any way, until the Hogwarts Express came in and their children came tumbling off the train.
"Dad! Mum!" yelled Al and Rose in near-perfect unison, launching themselves at their parents. Harry laughed as Al's arms went about his waist, and he tousled his youngest son's messy black locks.
"Hey Dad, Mum!" called James, grinning ear-to-ear as he followed them.
Everyone was excited and there was laughter and hugs all around, and even a little bit of tears.
Then Al yelled, "Hey, Scorp!" and Harry's heart leapt into his throat, as he looked in the direction Al was waving madly at. Where Draco was having a much more reserved reunion with his son.
Al tugged at Harry's hand. "Com'on Dad; I want you to meet Scorp!"
A pit of dread opened up in Harry's stomach as his son tugged him towards Scorpius and his father. Towards Draco.
"Scorp, this is my Dad!"
"Hello, Mr. Potter. It's nice to meet you," said Scorpius politely, holding out a hand for Harry to shake. Harry felt a strange sense of deja vu as he clasped the small hand. The little boy looked so much like Draco had at his age, it was mind-boggling.
He smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Scorpius. Al's talked about you in all of his letters." The small blond boy blushed. Harry decided right away that he liked Al's friend. He seemed to have inherited none of hos father's arrogance.
"You know my dad, right, Mr. Potter?" Scorpius asked, and reluctantly, Harry looked up. His eyes met Draco's and he almost gasped as the intensity of the other man's gaze bore into him. He couldn't look away. Awareness of everything and everyone around him faded as he stared into a storm of grey, a gale that caught him up and buffeted him mercilessly.
Those eyes turned almost tender in their expression, filled with a longing that seemed to echo his own heart.
Harry's breath caught. Lost in Draco's eyes, the years faded away to nothing. It was just the two of them, as it had always been.
As he'd thought it always would be.
That was the thought that broke through his reverie and made him pull back, tearing his eyes away and stiffening his shoulders. Draco had no right to affect him still. No right at all.
"Can Scorp come over during the break?" asked Al eagerly.
Harry's eyes widened marginally, and he turned to Ginny, who shot him a smile that was more of a grimace. "Uhm, maybe," Harry said noncommittally. "His parents might like to keep him home."
"Actually, it might be good for Scorpius to get out for a little while. He's never gone to visit a friend before. It might be good for him." Draco was smirking as he said the words, and it made Harry angry.
He opened his mouth and nearly snapped a reply, but remembering the children swallowed it down. "It'll be up to my wife," he said coolly. "And your wife might have something to say about it as well."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Highly unlikely. Scorpius will be staying with me throughout the winter break."
Harry blinked in confusion.
"We're divorced, Potter; surely you've heard. Divorce is rather uncommon in the wizarding world."
No, Harry hadn't heard. And it made him want to scream, because the woman Draco had left him for was gone, the marriage Draco had chosen over him hadn't even lasted. He'd told Draco as much, before he'd told his lover not to come back unless he broke his engagement to Astoria first.
The fact that he'd been right tasted bitter in Harry's mouth.
"Well I'm still married," he said, gazing into Draco's eyes levelly, resolving not to let himself get lost in them again. "And my wife might have something to say about it." Draco winced slightly.
"Mom!" hollered Al. "Please, please can Scorp visit over the break? Pleeeease?"
Ginny sighed. "I suppose, if it's alright with his parents."
Draco smirked again. "Ill see you again soon, Potter," he drawled. Leaning closer he whispered, "Happy Christmas, Harry."
Harry's breath hitched, and his groin stirred at the low tone he hadn't heard in so long.
He was well and truly fucked.