Draco leant over the side of his bed to retrieve his book. He wanted to spend as much time relaxing as he could over his lunch break before doing his homework. Gently pulling the slightly dog eared copy of his favourite book out from the stack of books under his bed, he sighed. Trying to stop himself thinking was exhausting and, quite frankly, pointless because, however hard he tried, thoughts would still creep into his mind. He couldn't believe he told Potter he'd tell him about Liam. He guessed he wouldn't have to go into detail but knew better than to assume Harry would take that as an answer and not probe further. Sighing lightly and running a hand through his hair, he picked up his book and found the page, willing himself to concentrate on the story.

He'd gotten through about half of lunch before Blaise found him. Dread filled him when he noticed the Slytherin standing in the doorway.

"Not now," Draco said mildly.

"Yes, now," Blaise replied firmly, walking over to sit by Draco on the bed. Before he could argue, Harry's voice came through the link.

Are you okay? Draco started slightly.

Yeah, he replied, frowning. How did Harry know something was wrong? Or was he just checking? Why would he just check? Draco thought for a second. He suddenly realised that Harry could've felt his dread. You felt that? He asked, slightly bemused and amazed at the same time.

Yeah. I thought I'd better ask. Wow. Okay. Draco's heart sped up when he realised his emotions wouldn't be a secret anymore.

Well, don't. He sent back snappily. Grimacing, he made his tone softer. I'm fine. I just – realised I hadn't done the homework for next lesson. He doubted Harry would buy that but he didn't reply. Draco, realising he'd shut them, opened his eyes to see Blaise frowning at him.

"Talking to Harry," Draco said, tapping his temple. "Apparently he feels my emotions now." Draco attempted a smile but it wobbled and fell away.

"Oh," Blaise said, simply, offering no sympathy. Draco gave him a mild glare. "Well, what do you want me to say? And anyway, you're changing the subject." Draco fell back onto his pillows and put his arms over his head.

"Go on, then."

"Draco, you dreamt about Liam, right?" Draco nodded. "Did you kiss him?" Draco squirmed and nodded again. "Okay." Blaise was quiet for a moment. Draco felt him reach across him and presumed he had picked up Draco's wand.

"Is it really that bad?" he asked, curling up in dread. Blaise was as close to him as a brother but this conversation had him wanting to claw his eyes out in embarrassment. Blaise returned to his place on the bed.

"I'm not taking any chances. Now, did you like it?" Draco groaned.

"Yeah, at the time."

"No, now."

"No?" Draco tried. Silence. "Fine, yes!" he almost shouted. He lifted his arms away from his head to see Blaise grinning at him. "I'm not gay," he murmured weakly, not even convincing himself.

"But what if you were? Would it really matter?" Draco's head snapped up to glare at Blaise for even suggesting that. Of course it would matter and he proceeded to tell Blaise why.

"Firstly, you saw how everyone acted today – and thanks to everyone for keeping that a secret, by the way - and secondly, what if the press got hold of it and thirdly what would my father say?"

"Is that it? The talking would stop after a few days when something else becomes the focus and they aren't actually insulting you or anything. They're only curious. Besides, everyone already thinks you're gay." Blaise ignored Draco's interjection of 'hey!' and continued. "Secondly, the press won't find out. We're at Hogwarts. The press don't exactly have free access. As for your father, he is in Azkaban and couldn't touch you even if he tried. Besides, you're his prized son and he loves you, no matter what." Blaise crossed his arms in front of his chest, as if waiting for Draco to dare and try to change his mind.

"He'll never forgive me. I'm pretty sure he's homophobic but he'll be angrier that I wouldn't be able to provide an heir and the Malfoy line would die out."

"So he'd rather have you be stuck with someone you don't love just so you can be 'normal' and provide an heir?"

"Yes!" Draco snapped, beginning to get fed up. Blaise didn't know Lucius as well as he did. It wasn't his problem. Wait, he was talking as if it was definite when – oh, who was he kidding? In that moment Draco decided that he would stop trying to convince himself. It was exhausting. His stomach fluttered slightly and Harry's name popped into his head. He fought it back hurriedly. Being gay was one thing, liking Potter was quite another.

xxx

Harry couldn't help but think about Draco and Liam throughout the next few days. He tried to make connections in his head but his friends kept throwing him off by saying words like 'boyfriend' and Harry couldn't let himself believe that. Finally he would find out later on today when he met Draco in their free after lunch. A through lunch he couldn't keep still or keep his eyes off the Slytherin table. Ron kept bugging him to promise to tell everybody all the details, having found out what Harry was planning to do. Harry pushed him away and told him to ask Draco himself. Ron pulled a face but continued to tell him all of the reasons why they should know.

"-and we pretty much know anyway so what difference will it make? You only won't tell us because you're worried about upsetting him and why do you care anyway? He's a prat. What difference does it make if he's pissed with you?"

"Ron!" Harry snapped, sensing Ron was going to continue and effectively stopping him in his tracks. "I am not telling you. And besides, he might not even tell me." Ron leant further across the table, his face inches from Harry's. He was blocking Harry's view to the Slytherin table so Harry had to drag his eyes away and focus on the Gryffindor in front of him.

"Of course he will. He seems to like you. He actually probably fancies you, which-"

"Means he definitely wouldn't tell Harry," Hermione finished for him. "Leave him alone, Ron." She pulled him back down into his seat. Ron pouted at her. Harry flicked his eyes to his watch. It was almost the end of lunch. He looked down at the pile of grapes on his plate and shoved a couple in his mouth. They often chose to eat in the second half of lunch, opting to make a start on any homework they had while they were still motivated. It also meant the hall was quieter. Draco and a few other Slytherins seemed to have the same idea and had come into the hall not long after Harry. Harry watched as Draco untangled himself from the bench and stood up.

Meet you there? Harry asked him unnecessarily because that was their normal arrangement. Draco flicked his eyes up to Harry. He nodded almost undetectably.

Yeah. I'm just about to go to the library. Need anything?

Okay, and no, thanks. Draco gave him a minute smile and left. Harry resisted the urge to follow him. Harry put more grapes in his mouth and looked over at his friends for a distraction. It didn't stop his knee from jumping impatiently under the table and from looking at his watch every few seconds. Talking of watches, Harry suddenly remembered that he still had Draco's watch in his bedside table. Mumbling his excuses, he grabbed his bag and raced up to the Gryffindor common room. He slowed his pace when he got there, allowing himself to catch his breath when he went up the stairs. He reached his bedside table and opened the drawer. Sure enough, there was the watch lying in the drawer, half on the photo album, half hanging off the side. He picked it up carefully, holding the delicate leather gently. Instinctively he brought it to his face. It still smelt faintly of Draco. And also dust, Harry noted. He gently wiped a few flecks of dust off the clock face and slipped it into his pocket. He was slightly reluctant to give it back. Probably because he might need to use it to bribe Draco in the future. Certainly not because it felt nice to have something of Draco's around.

Checking his watch, which was very plain and slightly battered in comparison, he saw that it was finally time to meet Draco and that he was, in fact, now late. Luckily the classroom wasn't that far away and the stairs did what he wanted them to so he got there quickly. Of course Draco was there already and frowned at him when he came in the door.

"I was about to ask you where you were," Draco said, tapping his head.

"Sorry. I remembered I found this." Harry pulled the watch from his pocket and held it out to Draco. Draco's face lit up when he saw it and Harry felt guilty for not handing it back sooner.

"Where did you find it?" Draco asked, happily sliding the watch back onto his wrist.

"In the library."

"I looked all over for it there," Draco said, frowning. He froze. "Wait. How long have you had it?" Harry scratched the back of his neck, feeling embarrassed. He wasn't sure whether to tell the truth and risk getting hexed. or perhaps slapped, Harry thought shrewdly. "Harry," Draco warned.

"Uhh, quite a while." Harry winced in apprehension of Draco's reply.

"You bastard! Why didn't you give it back earlier?" Draco glared at him.

"I would've done but then we had that fight and then I forgot." Draco's mouth fell open in outrage.

"You had it that long! You arse," Draco spat.

"Yeah, yeah. I get it you're annoyed. I'm sorry, okay." Draco folded his arms over his chest but didn't reply. "I guess this is a bad time to ask about Liam then," Harry thought out loud. Draco softened.

"Look, I'm not really mad. I wish you'd told me you had it, though. I've been kind of worried about it." Draco ran his fingers along the watch strap.

"I am sorry." Draco looked up at Harry and offered him a thin smile.

"I know. You're slacking though. I thought Hero Potter would return things quickly." Harry shot Draco a look but smiled all the same. "Now I guess you want to save me from my troubles with Liam?" Draco was making a half-hearted attempt to put Harry off the idea of asking him about Liam but Harry chose to ignore it.

"Yep," he answered and Draco rolled his eyes.

"Fine, but I'm only telling you this because I trust your Gryffindor loyalty."

Draco proceeded to tell Harry during the summer holidays between fifth and sixth year he was at Malfoy Manor and his father had some friends and their families round over a long weekend. Most of the children were a few years younger than Draco and the only people a similar age as him was a pair of twins, Bronwyn and Liam. They were a year older than him and were home schooled. He shared a room with Liam and they got on a little too well. It started with Liam cheekily flirting with him to… other things.

"-so now I don't really know what to do," Draco finished with a grimace. Harry stayed quiet for a moment with his eyes locked onto Draco's face. He slowly took in everything he'd just learnt about him.

"You're definitely…" Harry waved a hand around, not wanting to say it. Draco nodded. "Well, that's good. Well, not good, okay." Harry ran a hand through his hair, struggling with the words. "Seamus is rich," he added with a slight laugh. Draco groaned lightly.

"About that, do I tell anyone?" Harry smiled.

"I think everyone already knows."

"Well, I guess that makes it easier," Draco said with a weak laugh.

"Look, it's not going to be that bad and I've got your back," Harry offered with a smile. Draco's eyes widened slightly and he smiled genuinely at Harry.

Thank you, he said through the link. Harry smiled to himself, not surprised Draco couldn't bring himself to thank him out loud.