One- February

Draco walked down the halls, his flushed face held high despite the embarrassment thrumming inside him. He hadn't wanted the school to find out that way, about Harry and his relationship. They had only been dating for two months but Draco was already happier than he'd ever been. The only problem, he didn't know how to say that.

It didn't take long for Harry to realize how bad Draco was at vocalizing his emotions. After being forced to suppress almost all of his feelings for so long, he didn't know how to say what was on his mind. But Harry wasn't bothered. He could say enough for both of them.

Plus, Draco showed his appreciation in other ways. Such as a sweet kiss on the cheek between classes, or a teasing remark that may seem bitter but Harry knew was just his way of showing affection. They definitely had their problems to work through, but no relationship was without faults.

Draco sneered at a snickering fifth year and continued strutting to potions with as much dignity as he had left. Which is to say, not a lot. Draco sat down awkwardly next to Harry, who was beaming at him. Draco couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The two were relatively silent for the first half of potions, Draco still felt guilty about how their relationship was revealed. The 8th years didn't seem to be paying much mind to them. Perhaps they truly didn't care.

"I'm sorry," Draco whispered as he stirred their potion. The classroom was loud enough now he felt comfortable they would not be overheard. Harry frowned at the blonde.

"Why?" Harry moved to add something into the potion, which Draco swatted out of his hands. Harry frowns but doesn't protest. He hadn't gotten much better at potions even with all the help from Draco.

"You wanted to keep this- us a secret," Draco explains. He still refuses to look Harry in the eyes, something that annoys the Gryffindor immensely.

"It's not your fault," Harry says. Fondness blooms in Draco's chest but he still can't help but blame himself for the embarrassing incident.

"I don't care if people know Draco. Hell, I'll scream it from the rooftops. I'm in love with Draco Malfoy." The way the words tumble effortlessly from Harry's mouth startles Draco and in his surprise he sends the cauldron toppling over, the contents of their potion spilling onto the floor.

Needless to say, they got detention and the first fail Draco had ever received in potions. But he couldn't particularly bring himself to care. His heart sang with happiness and his face was for sure red enough to consider him a Weasley. The words danced through his mind all day. But he forgot one tiny detail, saying it back.

Two- March

The two panted as they lay beside each other on the emerald sheets, both covered in a thin layer of sweat. Harry giggled, feeling as light as a feather. They had had sex before, sure, but it still amazed him every time just how wonderful it was. It was always unpredictable as well. Sometimes it was slow and sweet, soft caresses and kisses brushing against his skin. Othertimes it was passionate and rough, years of tension sending them crashing together. Where every inch of his skin felt like it was on fire, and as Draco kissed lower and lower the heat overwhelmed him.

This time had been the former. Harry smiled softly at Draco, his cheeks still flushed. Draco met his gaze with a smile of his own. His silver eyes twinkling with adoration. Draco wrapped his arm around Harry's tan waist and pulled them flush against one another. Harry sighed into the embrace, melting in Draco's arms. Draco's heart pounded so hard he was sure Harry could hear it, not that he cared all that much. Harry filled his senses. The feel of Harry's naked body against his, the smell of his raven hair, the sound of his now even breathing. His whole body was concentrated on Harry and Harry only.

Draco pressed a kiss into Harry's unruly hair. He had a love-hate relationship with that wretched mop. He loved the way it felt under his fingers, and how it always made Harry look as though he had just been shagged. But his pureblood breeding screamed at him to fix it, make it neater and less like a bird had been nesting in it.

Harry hummed at the affection of his lover. Between the slow, sensual sex and the soft way that Draco held him now, Harry knew what the blonde was trying to say. What he was too scared to vocalize.

"I love you too," Harry professed. Draco's heart melted once more and the flame inside him grew stronger. His urge to protect Harry from all harm encompassed him. It was amazing what those three words could do to Draco.

Three- April

Meeting the Weasley's hadn't gone as bad as Draco had expected. Molly welcomed him with open arms as if the war had never happened. Bill, Charlie and were, while less enthusiastic, happy to welcome him. George, on the other hand, was not as happy too. He didn't state is disapproval outright, but the way he glared daggers into Draco's head spoke for itself.

Draco was concentrating on a very tense game of wizarding chess with Ron while Harry chatted idly with Mr. Weasley about muggle stuff. Charlie was watching the chess curiously, enraptured in the tense match. The game before Ron had won, and the game before that Draco had won. This was the be-all and end-all, the defining game, the revelation as to who, truly, was the better chess player.

Arthur continued to babble on about the new species of rubber duck he had found and Harry sent a pleading look over to Charlie. Charlie sighed and removed himself from the chess game to save Harry. Once free, Harry made his way over to his boyfriend.

"How is it going?" Draco shushes Harry, glaring sharply at him as he makes another move. The game continues at an agonizingly slow pace until finally-

"A draw? A bloody, fucking draw!" Draco hollars. Ron bursts into a fit of laughter, which is only spurred on by Draco's clear irritation. Harry, against his better judgment, joins in on the laughter.

"I don't get what's so funny," Draco snaps. Although his lips are twitching in an attempt to hold down his own smile. Harry finally gets a grip on himself and beams at his boyfriend.

"Your adorable," Harry breaths. Draco chooses to ignore the way his heart flutters at the statement and lets out an indignant squawk.

"I am not adorable! I am a Malfoy, Malfoy's are not adorable!" Draco crossed his arms over his chest, pouting at Harry. Harry feels his heart skip a beat and he resists the urge to awe. He really did find anything Draco did adorable.

"I agree with he ferret on this one mate," Ron chuckles. Harry ignores his best friend and instead pokes at Draco's reddening cheeks.

"See, adorable." Draco swats his hand away, glaring at the floor in frustration. If his body would comply with him that would be nice. He was trying to be angry right now.

"You are the biggest pain in my arse," Draco drawls. Harry laughs and an overwhelming desire to be closer to Draco takes over.

He grabs Draco's hand, pulling him from his chair. Harry leads him through the house until they reach the room they are staying in temporarily. Draco raises an eyebrow, a question in his silver eyes. Harry loops his arms around Draco's neck, hugging him tightly. Draco's heart stutters and he wraps his own arms around the dark-haired Gryffindor.

"I love you," Harry says against Draco's chest. Draco tenses. He tries to respond, but the words won't come. Harry pulls away from Draco slightly, his hands cupping Draco's neck. He can see the distress in his lover's eyes. "Hey," Harry says gently, "Don't stress. Take your time, alright?" Draco bites his lip, worrying it between his teeth. Harry frowns at that. He brushes his thumb lightly rover the blonde's smooth lip, forcing him to stop biting down on it. "I don't need to hear you say it, I know you love me. You show me other ways," Harry explains, "Like when you let me sleep in on the weekend and bring me breakfast from the great hall. Or when you finish the homework that I've fallen asleep doing." Draco chuckled. It wasn't uncommon for Harry to leave stuff last minute and then desperately try to finish several things in one go, which usually ended in him falling asleep and Draco finishing the work.

Draco smiles gratefully at Harry,

"Thank you." Harry nodded,

"Of course, that's what I'm here for." Draco's love for Harry burns him from the inside out. It's this overwhelming feeling that encompasses his every nerve. Draco surged forward, connecting Harry's lips with his own. He tries to put everything into the kiss. He wants to show Harry how grateful he is for all he's done to help him, and how wonderful he's made him feel. Most importantly, Draco wants Harry to know that he is all his. Every single bit of him is Harry's, every single scar, broken fragment, and snarky remark. He loves Harry with everything inside him.

Four- May

It hurt to see Harry like this. Tears staining his cheeks as he clutched Draco desperately. It always made Draco feel so helpless. It reminded him that no matter what he could never take away all of Harry's pain, everything he had been through. And that went both ways.

Both of them experience terrible nightmares. They had resorted to sharing a bed now since the nightmares seemed to lessen when around one another. Sometimes they stayed in Draco's room an sometimes in Harry's. But even though being together helped, they didn't go away completely.

Both boys had very different responses to their different traumas. While Harry was more of a cryer, Draco rarely cried. He just sat there with a scarily blank expression as his memories haunted him. It always scared Harry just how emotionless Draco went when he was in pain. His father had drilled it into him that emotions were weak and crying was for babies and girls. It was a lesson Draco had yet learned to get over. They both had their demons, their gruesome pasts. Harry losing so many parental figures in life, living with horrible neglect, and having the pressure of the world on his shoulders. And Draco being torn down by the one person who was supposed to love him unconditionally, battered and bruised by his own flesh and blood, and forced to do things that made his stomach churn uncomfortably.

When the nightmares and memories came to haunt them they took their turns being there for one another. Learning what they needed and what made it worse. While Harry wanted to be held and comforted, cuddled as if his life depended on it, Draco recoiled at any sort of physical touch, wanting only to be comforted by Harry's voice and the knowledge that all of it is over.

Tonight was one of the days where Harry had bolted up in bed with a strangled scream, startling Draco awake. As soon as Harry comprehended his dream he had started sobbing. Loud, uncontrollable sobs that stabbed into Draco's heart.

Now Draco was holding onto Harry, running his long fingers through Harry's sweaty, matted black hair as he sobbed. Draco's chest twisted painfully every time Harry gasped for air, choking on his own cries.

"Breath darling," Draco whispered, "Focus on me." He breathed in and out, counting in his head. Harry tried to match Draco's breathing and slowly his sobs quieted and his breathing started to even out. "That's is darling, your doing great." Once Harry had settled down Draco lay back down onto the bed, still holding Harry in his arms.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sometimes he did, sometimes he didn't. Harry shakes his head. Draco respects Harry's choice and just continued to hold him. Since he didn't know what the dream was about there wasn't much Draco could say to make it better. He didn't want to risk saying the wrong thing. He had learned fairly quickly that unless he knew what Harry was upset about, it was better to hold him than try and console him with words.

Harry threaded his fingers through Draco's, holding the hand that was around his waist.

"Thank you," he croaked. Draco pressed a lingering his on his shoulder, his way of saying 'you're welcome'. Harry wasn't going to sleep again tonight, they both knew that. Draco, feeling like Harry was stable enough, let himself succumb to the heavy feeling of exhaustion coursing through him. Just as he started drifting asleep he heard Harry mutter,

"I love you."

Five- June

As soon as Headmistress McGonagall had announced the end of the year ball for 7 and 8th years, everyone was scrambling to get a date. Luckily, Harry didn't have to worry about rushing around to find someone to go with as the had with the Yule Ball. This time, he already had a date. At least, he assumed he did. What is the point of having a boyfriend if you didn't go to events together? But all the commotion has been rather stressful and now Harry just wanted his boyfriend's attention.

Harry entered the common room, eyes searching for the familiar blonde hair. Draco was engaged in some sort of conversation with Hermione that Harry honestly could not follow. He was sitting on the couch with his back against the armrest. Harry made his way over and plopped down on top of Draco. Draco huffed but allowed the Gryffindor to wrap his arms around Draco's waist, laying on top of him. Draco chuckled and resumed his conversation with Hermione, his hand playing with Harry's hair.

Harry frowned at being ignored, he wanted attention. Harry slipped lower so his head was resting on Draco's thigh in a rather compromising place. Draco frowned at him and Hermione laughed.

"I think he's trying to get your attention," She pointed out obviously. Draco nodded and Harry grinned cheekily up at him.

"What on earth are you doing Potter?" Draco still called him Potter from time to time, more of a reflex than anything. Harry didn't mind, not at all. Harry shrugged innocently,

"I'm just getting comfortable." He burrowed his face into Draco's lap. Draco squawked and hit Harry gently on the head. Harry laughed against's Draco's thigh.

"You are a nightmare," Draco groaned.

"But you love me." Draco flushes and that's all the answer Harry needs. Harry sits up, relaxing properly against Draco now. Harry found it funny how on and off Draco could be. One day he'd be snogging Harry fiercely in the middle of the hall, the next even the slightest hint of a sexual touch sends him blushing and stuttering. It was endearing.

"And I love you too." Draco smiles and the two stare at one another as the world slowly slips away around them. The lovely moment is broken but a rather loud,

"Aweee!" Harry and Draco glare over at Hermione. The witch clears her throat,

"I said ewwww, not awe, seriously guys. Get a room," she rolls her eyes teasingly. Draco snorts and Harry dissolves into a fit of giggles. Draco melts at the sound of his laughter, he'd do anything to make sure he hears that sound every day.

Plus One

As the ball approached Harry and Draco went shopping for dress ropes together, well Draco shopped mostly while Harry just tagged along and watched his boyfriend in his natural habitat. He could care less what robes they wore, Draco looked good in anything. Although Harry personally thought Draco looked best with no clothes at all. He even said so, which earned him a lovely morning shag. Ron had complained thoroughly about it during breakfast.

Harry didn't understand why Ron complained, they always had the curtains closed and they put up privacy charms and silencing spells. They kept their sex life private. Harry was starting to think Ron enjoyed complaining about the two of them shagging.

The robe shopping went well and the ball loomed closer and closer until the night finally arrived. Draco and Harry walked hand and hand to the ball with Hermione and Ron. It was an emotional night for everyone, today being the last day at Hogwarts. The night had a bittersweet feel to it. As they entered the great hall music surrounded them. Luna greeted them in her pearly white dress before being whisked away by Ginny. The two made a charming pair, Draco thought.

"I can't believe this is it," Harry sighed. Draco looked around the room at all of the people he had begun to care so much about. Ginny and Luna were dancing happily to the upbeat music, Pansy was chatting with Blaize and Neville. Dean and Seamus were making out in the corner. Draco shook his head fondly at the two, he didn't understand why Ron complained so much about Harry and him when Dean and Seamus were so much worse. The two did not understand the words 'personal space'.

"It seems crazy how far we've all come after the war," Draco exclaims as he gestures around at all the different houses mixing together, "I mean, Gryffindor's and Slytherins are getting along. It's preposterous." Harry laughs at Draco's dramatic tone. The music changes to a slower song and Harry takes Draco's pale hand in his.

"Wanna dance?" Draco nods and leads Harry to the dance floor. He bows to Harry, gently kissing the top of his hand. He smirks up at Harry as he straightens out.

"Oh, should I curtsy now?" Harry asks teasingly. Draco shakes his head with a chuckle and his hand goes to Harry's waist. Harry's a terrible dancer but Draco is good enough for both of them. He leads Harry as they slowly sway together. As Draco stares down into the emerald pools so filled with love and adoration he wonders how he got so lucky.

They sway together, lost in one another. The room dissolves around them until they're the only two people on earth. Draco feels so overcome with emotion. Between seeing all his friends smiling and laughing together, his time at Hogwarts coming to an end, and all the time he's spent with Harry, his emotions are all over the place. But throughout everything, there was always one emotion that never wavered.

"I love you," Draco breaths. Harry's lips part in a small gasp, his eyes shining with a thin layer of tears. Harry grasps Draco's neck and pulls him down to him. Harry kisses him with everything he has and Draco feels like exploding. Harry breaks the kiss with a delighted laugh, a single tear escaping his eye to roll down his cheek. Draco's worried Harry is upset for a moment, but with the way Harry smiles at him, Draco knows it's all okay.