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: 865
Title: Hidden Motives
Note: I used "common pairing" as the common thing I wrote about.
Warnings: angst, Hermione can be seen as OCC, but it's explained.
Beta: MoonytheMarauder1
Hogwarts
Assignment 4: Beauty Therapy: Body Modifications: Task #2 - Ear Piercing: Write about something common.
Yearly:
Prompt 259 [Dialogue] "Why do you love me?"
A blush pink colour came over Harry's cheeks as the delivery person arrived with the box of chocolates from his husband.
"Did you have a fight?" Hermione asked, eyeing the fancy heart shaped box.
"No," Harry replied. "It's not even our anniversary; Draco never does things like this."
"Maybe he is cheating on you," Hermione suggested. She had never quite managed to move on from how he had treated them as a child.
"Hermione! I can't believe you would say that, you told me you had forgiven him," Harry said angrily, but although he had fought against it, the seed had been planted that maybe his husband was up to something sinister after all.
"I'm sorry Harry, that wasn't fair of me," Hermione mumbled in reply. Harry sat with the box on his desk, staring at it like it was about to jump at him. When the letter with the owl arrived, it was like the nail in the coffin of his misguided belief.
It was a simple note from Draco saying how much he loved him and couldn't wait for him to come home after work.
"Oh hell, he is cheating on me," Harry said to himself.
The day passed in a blur, and Harry was happy for the paperwork keeping him busy; he didn't think he would have been capable of taking down a bad guy in his state of mind.
Harry took his time to pack up his things, and tried to block out the box that was offending him, still unopened on his desk.
He opened it, half expecting something to happen, but all he found was a note that read:
Harry,
I haven't been the best husband to you, but that is going to change. I love you so much.
Draco.
Harry was nervous when he arrived home, and his nerves settled somewhat when he saw Draco smiling at him. There were papers on the table, and Harry glanced at them in suspicion.
"Harry," Draco said, smiling. "Enjoy my little surprise today?"
Harry nodded. "Are you okay?" Draco asked, puzzled.
"Yeah, totally," Harry said.
"Oh come on, don't lie to me," Draco said suddenly.
"You've never done that before," Harry said evasively.
"I know, I thought I would cheer you up," Draco explained.
"No ulterior motives?" Harry asked.
"Merlin, where did that come from?" Draco asked. The change in his mood was a full 360 from when Harry walked in through the door. Harry watched in horror as his husband grabbed the papers off the table and practically stomped out the door of the hallway to their bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
Harry managed a quick glance at the papers; they looked very formal. He had no idea what they were, but clearly they weren't divorce papers.
Harry sighed. He really messed up this time. He took a deep breath before following his husband into their bedroom. He saw Draco hastily stuff the papers in a drawer.
"What are those?" Harry asked.
"Now isn't the time," Draco said, attempting to shrug it off.
"Why not?" Harry asked, not ready to let it go. "I thought they might be divorce papers."
"Wow, you're an idiot. I buy you chocolates and you think we're breaking up." Draco laughed half-heartedly.
"Why do you love me?" Harry asked, sitting down on their ivory covered bedspread and eyeing their wedding photograph on the bedside table.
"You are the kindest, purest, and most loving, man I have ever met, Harry, and my life wouldn't be worth anything if I didn't have you," Draco said.
Harry felt terrible. "I'm sorry," Harry replied. "I never should have become so insecure."
"It's easy to believe that people won't stick around, I suppose. It just hurts—I've never given you reason to believe I'm not a forever kind of person."
"I know, I shouldn't have let Hermione get to me," he said.
"She told you I was cheating, didn't she?" Draco sighed.
"Basically," Harry admitted.
"I suppose I can't blame her for never forgiving me," Draco said, taking Harry's hand.
"It's not your fault she believed there was something romantic between you. And we have been married five years, she really should let it go," Harry said, squeezing his husband's hand.
Hermione had a crush on Draco during their eighth year, and she had believed that Draco had felt the same about her, even though Draco had chosen to make peace with the trio for the sake of getting closer to Harry, who he'd had his eyes on since he turned sixteen and realised he was gay.
"Do you remember a while ago when we said that I might change my mind about kids?" Draco asked.
Harry nodded, and Draco pulled the papers out.
"Adoption papers?" Harry asked.
Draco nodded. "I'm finally ready, and I wanted to show you."
"So, there was a special occasion," Harry beamed.
"Yes, but believe me over your friends next time, okay?" Draco asked.
"We're having a baby!" Harry exclaimed.
"Yes, we are having a baby," Draco replied, smiling at his husband's beaming face.
"I love you so much!" Harry said, grabbing Draco and kissing him, forgetting all insecurities, at least for the time being.