Harry looked up from the stack of parchments he was organising to see Draco staring blankly at his fingers yet again. The Slytherin had been very quiet for the last half an hour and wasn't bullying Harry into writing neatly or teasing him about how he could find horcruxes but not a specific book. Harry shuffled his chair closer to Draco.
"Okay, what's wrong?" he asked, concerned that Draco jumped.
"Nothing, I'm fine." Draco gave him a small, obviously fake smile.
What's really wrong? Harry figured talking inside Draco's head might get him to open up a little. Draco sighed.
We're nearly finished with the project and I guess… Draco trailed off, biting his lip. Harry gently put a hand on Draco's shoulder.
It's okay, you can tell me. Maybe I can help? Harry frowned when Draco laughed humourlessly.
When you're not forced to spend time with me you'll never talk to me again. Harry's eyes widened in surprise and his stomach lurched. This was why the Slytherin was grumpy? He wanted to stay friends with Harry? It was funny how Draco was adamant they couldn't be friends and now he doesn't want to stop. He looked so upset Harry almost wanted to hug him. Instead he squeezed his shoulder gently.
"Look at me," Harry told him softly. Some ingrained Gryffindor part of him told him to stop comforting his previous arch enemy but he ignored it. After the war the hatred he felt for Draco faded and Harry felt no negative emotions towards the man in front of him, looking down at his hands. When Draco resisted his request, Harry guided his chin up with his hand. "You are my friend, Draco. Like how I'm friends with Ron and Hermione, and Merlin knows we've been through as much together." Harry watched Draco squirm and blush, his eyes fixed downwards. Harry could barely believe he was saying this but it felt so right. "I promise I'll still talk to you after we finish this."
Even if it's just through here, he added for good measure.
Okay, thank you, Draco replied gratefully. Harry noticed wet warmth on the hand still gently holding Draco's chin and moved it up a little more. Draco's eyes flicked to Harry's. They were shimmering with tears, a few of which had escaped and run down Draco's pale face, reaching Harry's hand. Harry didn't know what came over him but he leant across and pulled the blond into a hug. Draco stiffened and Harry began to panic that he'd done the wrong thing but Draco relaxed and slid his arms around Harry's waist, stopping Harry pulling away. The two men, from rival houses, on rival sides with rival friends held each other for a moment. Tears almost sprung to Harry's own eyes when he thought how the relationship had changed with the blond in his arms.
"Okay, you can let go of me now, Potter," Draco told him, his breath tickling Harry's neck and causing his stomach to flutter. He quickly let go of Draco, blushing furiously. He gave the blond a sheepish grin.
"Sorry." Draco gave him a genuine smile, which only caused his stomach to flutter more with happiness.
"People might think you actually care about me," Draco teased. Harry gave him a mock glare, stuck out his tongue and scooted his chair back to the other side of the table with a screech. Draco perked up considerably after their talk and they playfully teased and chatted as they worked. All they really had to do now was organise their notes and start writing up.
At the end of their free period Harry was about to walk out the door of their classroom when Draco stopped him by grabbing his wrist.
"Thank you. For saying those things earlier." Harry smiled broadly at him.
"It's okay. I meant it, you know." Draco nodded, smiling. Harry placed a hand gently on Draco's shoulder and they left the room together.
I like it when you touch me Draco almost whispered through the link. A lot of people are afraid to. Harry narrowed his eyes at the people mentioned, feeling bad that he was once one of them.
Because they think you'll attack them? He asked, since that would be the reason he'd have stayed away from Draco.
Yeah. Draco replied, sighing. Or catch something. Probably worse when they find out I'm gay.
I won't. Harry threw his arm around Draco's shoulders, which was hard since the blond was several inches taller than him, and pulled him close. Harry jumped when he heard a wolf whistle from behind them. Zambini approached them.
"I was going to come and collect you, Draco, so we could go to supper together but it looks like you're otherwise occupied." Draco tried to wiggle out of Harry's grasp but Harry held him tightly. He threw his other arm around Zambini as he walked alongside.
"You're just jealous," Harry teased, feeling too happy to risk angering the Slytherin. Draco talked about Zambini a surprising amount and Harry figured the playful Slytherin couldn't hate him too much.
"Unhand me, Potter!" Zambini demanded, but with no heat behind it and he was grinning. Harry squirmed when Draco dug his fingers into a ticklish spot in his ribs, laughing.
"Okay, okay." Harry released the ruffled Slytherins.
"Insufferable Gryffindor," Zambini grumbled, smoothing down his clothes. "I don't know how you put up with him, Draco."
"Me neither," Draco agreed, trying to persuade his face to glare at Harry rather than showing his amusement.
"Hey!" Harry pouted.
"Care to walk with us to the great hall, Potter?" Zambini asked. Harry didn't miss the happy look Draco gave him.
"Okay but only if you remember the sorting hat wanted to put me in Slytherin so you can't insult me." Zambini groaned.
"Imagine having to put up with you all the time," he teased.
As it turned out, Harry found quite a lot to talk about with Zambini and his (very surprisingly) playful, teasing nature was infectious.
Sit with us until Granger and Weasley arrive? Draco asked, eyeing the nearly completely empty hall. Harry frowned.
Aren't you worried about people talking? Draco shrugged.
There aren't many people here yet. Harry grinned at Draco.
"Okay." Harry followed the Slytherins to the 'enemy' table. They settled down and Zambini pulled out a Quidditch magazine. It was the latest issue that was supposed to come out in a weeks' time so Harry had no idea how Zambini had it.
"Harry? What are you doing?" Harry begrudgingly turned his attention from the article he was reading over Zambini's shoulder to Ron and Hermione.
"Look at this!" Harry exclaimed, pointing to the magazine. Ron immediately plonked himself down next to Harry and pulled the magazine over.
"Hey!" Zambini exclaimed, alerting the Gryffindors to his existence.
"How did you get this?" Ron asked him.
"It's alright, Granger, we don't bite," Blaise said to Hermione, who was hovering uncertainly. She hesitantly sat down.
"I'm guessing you and Harry are closer than we've been told then?" She frowned at Draco but looked happy.
"I'm sorry about how I've treated you over the years. I hope you can forgive me for my bad behaviour," Draco said, seriously. He felt like he couldn't say a word to her before he said that. He'd already made a formal apology but, not that he would admit it, guilt gnawed at him whenever he saw her and anyone else he'd hurt. Hermione blushed with surprise.
"I - yes, of course. I accept your apology." She held out her hand and Draco shook it. Harry watched them happily. This certainly made things a lot easier.
"so, why are you over here, Harry?"
"I walked here with Draco and Zambini and I was waiting for you," Harry explained with a shrug.
Draco suddenly groaned and Harry looked behind him to see Seamus, Dean and Neville walking towards them. Ron and Harry successfully diffused the tension and they plonked down on the bench.
You okay? Harry asked Draco.
Of course, Potter, I can handle myself. He glared at him playfully before smiling. Thank you for asking. Harry gave him a smile. Dean and Ron occupied themselves with Quidditch. Unbeknownst to Harry, Seamus and Blaise were betting whether and when Harry and Draco would finally realise their crush on each other.
"Why is our table full of Gryffindors?" Everyone looked up to see Theo and Pansy standing over them, confusion on their faces.
"Harry started it!" Ron told them, pointing to where Harry was sitting uncomfortably.
"Draco asked me to!" Harry protested. Theo and Pansy gave each other a knowing look.
"Okay," Pansy said simply, and sat down next to Draco. She gave him a hug and kissed him on the cheek. Conversation around the table started up again and Harry was confused, but pleased, to see no-one was fighting.
"Dean, Ron, you owe me ten galleons!" Seamus suddenly announced. Both boys mentioned turned to stare at Draco.
"No way, it can't be true!" Ron glared at Seamus.
"It is! Blaise says he is!" Harry frowned in confusion, looking between the celebrating Seamus and Draco.
"Blaise!" Draco exclaimed angrily, cottoning on to what they meant before Harry did.
"Sorry, Draco." Blaise looked sheepish. "It just sort of just slipped out." Draco shot a hex at Blaise and he yelped.
"Sorry, it sort of just slipped out," Draco said with a smirk. At least he didn't have to worry about coming out any more.
xx
Draco lay in bed, unable to sleep. That day had been a very, very weird day. First, he annoying spilled his guts to Potter, and then a bunch of over friendly Gryffindors found out something he only just came to terms with. He was more than a little annoyed with Blaise for that. Thankfully, after a bit of disbelief from some and a 'finally' from others, they accepted it. Maybe it wasn't so bad to have a load of furiously loyal Gryffindors on his side.
Draco surprisingly enjoyed their company. Of course, he thought they were horribly loud, messy and uncouth, nothing that his family were tolerable of, but he didn't hate it as much as he was expecting to. He found it made an almost relieving change to the pure blood aristocrat behaviour he was so familiar with. He was surprised that Blaise's playfulness, which he was so taken aback by when they first met, was actually toned down, and being around the Gryffindors had brought it out in him. It was probably a stupid thought but he felt like he could breathe more easily around them. They were so carefree. They never had to worry about what they were saying or how they acted. Draco enjoyed having good manners and acting like the heir of an important family that he was but after watching them he did wish he was allowed to be a proper teenager. He suddenly remembered that he had got out of Harry's grip by tickling him and cringed, covering his rapidly heating face with his hands. It was too easy to be caught up in the teasing and forget who he was supposed to be.
Relaxing, Draco found a comfortable position to lie in and found himself daydreaming about what it would have been like to go through Hogwarts without the pressure of keeping up appearances. He fell asleep quickly.