* Well, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I had fully intended to finish this story by the end of 2018. Here is another chapter, but it isn't quite the last one. Happy New Year!
"Is everything all right between you and Draco?" Hermione asked as they sat at their table in the canteen.
"Yeah, why?"
"Because he hasn't come over to ask you about supper plans. And now he's leaving."
"What?" Harry turned to see his lover walking out with colleagues. "Oh, well, it's not like he has to talk to me every day. He has other friends you know."
"Yes, but he always stops by. You don't think it's something Ron and I have done, do you?"
"No. Why? Did you do something you shouldn't have?" Harry joked. "And is Ron really sick today? He seemed fine yesterday."
"Between you and me, I think he's skiving," she said. "He's been acting . . . I don't know if secretive is the right word. But something is going on."
"Does it have anything to do with Draco?"
She shook her head. "I don't think so. He's been quite amiable. We all have. So, I wonder why he didn't come over."
"I don't know. A couple weeks ago, he was asking me to stay over, on a work night. And we've been spending every weekend together. He's practically moved me into his flat."
"Are you ready for that?"
"I'm not sure."
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"Knock, knock," Harry said as he rapped on the door jamb outside Draco's office.
Draco looked up and smiled. "Looking for me, I hope."
"Of course. You didn't stop by to talk about supper plans for tonight."
His smile fading, Draco said, "You didn't come to me either."
"I know. Because you always come to me."
"I am acutely aware of that."
Harry frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"It doesn't feel like nothing. Have I done something to upset you?"
"No. I have."
"I don't understand."
Draco sighed. "I've been moving too quickly for you, haven't I? It's all right, you don't have to answer. I know I have."
Harry moved closer. "Draco, I'm very happy with you. If I've done something to make you think otherwise, tell me."
"Perhaps it's just a bit of ego," Draco said, taking one of Harry's hands. "I've never had to do so much of the chasing. I'm usually the one pursued." He chuckled at himself. "I am an arrogant prat, aren't I?"
"No. Maybe at one time you were. You're a proud man, but there's nothing wrong with taking pride in yourself."
"It's not pride I feel when I'm with you, Harry. I love you. And while I've said those words to others, I'm not certain now that I truly meant them. Because I've never felt the need–the ache." Draco closed his eyes. "I'm no longer complete without you. And I'm terrified of losing you, so I'm holding on too tightly."
"Draco, look at me."
He opened his eyes.
"Do I look like I'm trying to get away?" Harry asked. "I'm not very good at the boyfriend thing, I'll admit. I should probably be taking the initiative more often. I've been enjoying the way you take care of me, the way you make love to me, making me feel special. Merlin, I haven't been doing any of that for you. Shite. I'm really a crap boyfriend. No wonder none of my other relationships ever worked out."
"Harry."
"I'm going to make it up to you."
"Harry–"
"What do you want to do for supper? No, wait, I'll plan it. I'll plan something nice. And this weekend. I'll take you away somewhere."
"Harry."
"What?"
"You don't need to do all that. You're not a crap boyfriend."
"You're being kind. But I want to do nice things for you. I thought I was being nice by letting you plan things the way you wanted. But I get the message. Let me take care of you a bit, eh?"
Draco smiled. "If that will make you happy,"
"I already told you, I'm happy with you. I want you to feel that way too." He leaned down and gave Draco a quick kiss. "Meet me at the floos after work. Gotta run."
Alone in his office without Ron, Harry's mind wandered to all the things he wanted to do with Draco. How could he have been so blind and stupid? He thought about how many times he turned Draco down before agreeing to give it a go. Harry had no problem leading a team of Aurors and taking charge of an investigation. But when it came to love affairs, he fell woefully short.
Draco, on the other hand, was extremely skilled at showing and telling Harry how he felt. The telling part was difficult for Harry, but he could certainly do a better job of showing Draco he felt the same way.
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"You didn't have to choose such an upscale restaurant," Draco told Harry, though clearly, he appreciated the menu. "What's the occasion?"
"No occasion," Harry said. "You deserve it."
"Because I whinged earlier?"
"No, you didn't whinge. I'm glad you were honest with me. It's something I would have appreciated hearing from some of my past lovers."
Draco's smile dropped.
"Oh." Harry shook his head. "Not that I regret no longer being with any of them. I only meant that if any of them had voiced their complaints, I might be a better boyfriend for you now. I mistakenly thought letting you control the direction of our relationship was being thoughtful or courteous. But now I see that it was being lazy."
"Harry, I shouldn't have complained."
"Yes, you should have. I've asked for what I want from you. I've accepted all that you gave. I want to give back."
Smirking, Draco asked, "What did you have in mind?"
"I want us to get together with Blaise and Pansy."
Draco laughed out loud. "Be careful what you wish for."
"I'm serious. You're making the effort with Ron and Hermione. It's about time I did the same with your friends. Perhaps some day we'll come to think of the four of them as our friends."
"I would enjoy that," Draco admitted.
"Then you'll arrange it?"
"I'll find out what they're doing this weekend."
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Harry glanced around his sitting room for about the hundredth time.
"It's only Pans and Blaise. The place is more than ready for guests. If you ask me, these canapés are too good for them." Draco grinned, then popped one in his mouth.
"I want to make a good impression. I'm not certain what to expect." Harry paused. What should I expect?"
"They aren't terribly different from me. Both raised in pureblood society. I believe one of Blaise's half-brothers is actually my second cousin."
"Really? But not Blaise himself?"
"His mum has married and buried so many men it's difficult to keep track."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "And what about Pansy? Is she related to you as well?"
"Yes, but much more distantly. We only share a great, great, and probably another great, grandmother."
"What about significant others?" Harry asked. "Will either of them be bringing a boyfriend or girlfriend? I should have asked earlier."
"Blaise and Pansy have an on-off sort of relationship with one another."
"Is it off or on?"
Draco shrugged. "I don't know. But neither of them is bringing a date. So perhaps they're on at the moment."
The fireplace suddenly whooshed to life, Blaise's face appearing in the flames.
"All right to come through?" he asked.
"Yes, of course," Harry said, smiling nervously.
They all greeted each other with handshakes and formal introductions. Harry offered beverages and canapés, and hey sat in various seats in the sitting room of Grimauld Place. Pansy chose the over-stuffed arm chair, while Blaise sat in a plain, hard-backed chair on the other side of the coffee table. That left Harry and Draco to sit together on the sofa.
At first, Harry merely listened to the others catching up on gossip. He wasn't particularly interested in hearing about who was getting married, who was in the middle of a scandal, or how much money some rich, old pureblood made on the sale of his estate. Especially when he didn't recognize any of the names mentioned. He tried to stifle a yawn unsuccessfully.
"We boring you, Potter?" Blaise teased.
"Sorry. No."
Draco patted Harry's knee. "It's all right. Most of the gossip is boring to us as well."
"Speak for yourself," Pansy told him. "I love weddings. I've already got my own planned out."
"Except for the groom," Blaise murmured.
Pansy glared, and Harry suspected Draco was wrong about their on-off status.
"Ron and Hermione are getting married," Harry said, thinking he was adding to the pureblood gossip.
"Weasley? Is it going to be in a barn?" Pansy laughed.
"Pans," Draco gave a warning.
"No," Harry said. "It will be in their backyard, same as all the brothers' weddings. I only attended Bill and Fleur's wedding, but it was lovely. They had a large tent decorated with fairy lights and flowers, with the meadow as a backdrop. And Molly cooked all the food herself. It was a fine party . . . until the Death Eaters attacked."
Both Blaise and Pansy lowered their gazes. If Harry read their expressions correctly, he saw a touch of guilt.
"But that's in the past," Harry continued. "What do you imagine your wedding to be?"
"I imagine it will be in the ballroom of my father's manor. At least ten bridesmaids and two flower girls. My gown will be made at Twilfitt and Tattings, of course. Or perhaps I'll go to one of those famous Muggle wedding shops."
"Muggle?" Harry's eyebrows shot up.
"Like most of us former Pureblood fanatics, Pansy has come to appreciate that sometimes Muggle ways are . . . superior," Draco offered.
"When it comes to fashion, at any rate," Pansy agreed.
Blaise held up his pilsner of butter beer. "True. I'm tired of seeing sexy witches covered up in flowing robes."
"I definitely won't be covered up on my wedding day."
"Pans, love, you're never covered up." Blaise smirked.
"And you love it." She drew a finger down her chest into her sizable cleavage.
Harry watched them as they bantered. He still wasn't certain if they were on or off as a couple. He recognized the look of lust in Blaise's eyes, though. When he glanced at Pansy, she still had her hand on her breast, drawing soft circles as she licked her lips. He quickly looked away.
"What about you, Potter?" Blaise asked. "You're the most eligible bachelor in all the wizarding world. I suppose your wedding will be quite the event."
Harry's brow drew together. "I never thought of it. I never thought I'd get married."
Draco's head whipped around. "Why not?"
"Um, well, men can't get married to each other. I'm not going to marry a woman."
"You mean in the Muggle world. Same gender marriages happen all the time in the wizarding world."
"Really? I've never heard of one."
"What about Hortense and Josephine Caron?" Blaise chimed in.
"Josephine? You mean Joe."
"Joe is short for Josephine."
"Crikey, I thought she was man," Harry said.
"She is rather ghastly," Pansy chuckled. "And she dresses in mens clothing. But really, Harry, any observant person can see she's a woman."
She leaned forward. "Perhaps not quite the woman as I am."
Draco smirked. "No one is quite the woman you are."
"Oh, I don't know," Blaise took a sip of his butter beer. "Daphne Greengrass is quite a woman too."
"Fuck off," Pansy spit. "Harry, may I use your loo?"
"Of course. It's just down the hall, to the right."
When she left the room, Draco stood. "More butter beer anyone? Or should we move on to fire whiskey?"
"I'll have a shot or two," Blaise grinned.
"I'll help you," Harry said, standing.
"No, you stay and talk to Blaise. I'll be back in a jiffy."
Harry tried to start a conversation, perhaps asking about his job or family. But Blaise beat him to it.
"Don't pay any mind to Pansy. She's only trying to make me jealous. Besides, she's barking up the wrong tree with you, innit?"
"Uh."
"I mean, she hasn't got what you want. Not like I do." Blaise winked.
Wide-eyed, Harry sat motionless as Zabini moved to sit next to him on the sofa.
"So, just how serious is this thing with Draco?"
"Um, fairly serious," Harry answered, attempting to slide further away. "We, um, are very serious, actually. We're dating exclusively."
Blaise placed his hand on Harry's knee. "You certain there's not room for one more?"
"Zabini." Draco walked into the room with a tray holding for shot glasses and half a bottle of fire whiskey. Despite his verbal warning, he appeared non-plussed at the sight of his best friend's hand caressing his boyfriend's thigh.
Harry, however, jumped off the couch just as Pansy came back. She glanced from Blaise to Harry and frowned.
"Hm, and what were you boys up to while I was gone?"
"Nothing," Harry said. "Fire whiskey?"
"Don't mind if I do."
After they'd all had a shot, Draco directed the conversation to Quidditch. Harry finally began to relax, though occasionally Pansy and Blaise would either wink or make a suggestive comment. Looking to Draco for guidance on how to respond, Harry was surprised that his normally jealous boyfriend had no reaction at all.
By the time Draco's friends were ready to leave, Harry had learned a great deal about them. Blaise's family ran a winery, making wizard wine exclusively. Like Draco, he had abandoned many of his pureblood prejudices. And Harry highly suspected him of being bisexual. Pansy, on the other hand, still followed most of the pureblood traditions of her family. Though, she seemed more open-minded than the generation before her. She longed to breed and raise unicorns, but Ministry restrictions limited her opportunities. She was happy to attend social functions and teas, and plan her wedding. Harry thought she ought to simply have a posh gala and skip the wedding, as she didn't appear to be interested in the marriage that would follow.
Afterward, as he and Harry cleaned up, Draco picked up the empty whiskey bottle. "This was a necessary evil."
"Was it?" Harry asked, picking up dishes and glasses left over from the evening.
Raising an eyebrow, Draco scoffed. "It was for me. You handled yourself well, though."
"I don't know about that. I didn't know what to say half the time."
"You said and did all the right things."
"How do you know?"
Draco laughed. "Because they both congratulated me."
"On what?"
"Finding a faithful lover in wizarding's most eligible bachelor. And, believe me, they tried to their best to entice you."
"That was a test?" Harry's brow furrowed. "You were testing me?"
"No. Not me. They were merely looking out for my best interests." The corner of Draco's mouth rose. "And having a bit of fun. It was a win-win for them."
"How so?"
"Either they would have found you to be a suitable match for me, with honorable intentions, or they would have gotten to have a hump with The Chosen One."
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