Year Six


It happened in sixth year. Some bloody dumb fuck asked a question with an obvious answer. Crabbe, he remembered the name.

"How come you never change in the open like all the rest of us blokes?"

Harry looked at him, bewildered. Everyone knew he was transgender, why ask that?

"Is it because you don't want anyone to see your tits?" Another dumb looking creature piped up, Goyle.

Harry glanced around the room, all the other boys had paused what they were doing.

"Er, yeah. Pretty much." Harry had no clue why they had decided to bring this up.

The two ogre looking boys stepped closer to him, crowding him against the edge of his bed.

"You don't belong here, Harriette." Harry flinched, and anger coarsed through him. How dare they utter his dead name!

"Go to the girls dorms, freak!" Harry was shaking now, fists clenched, and about two seconds from cursing them into oblivion when they suddenly shot across the room. Harry turned and saw Draco leaning against the door frame, wand tapping against his hand.

"Go to the ogre rooms, you ugly bastards."

Crabbe and Goyle quickly shuffled out of the room, tails behind their legs. Draco's eyes scanned the room, sending chills through anyone his gaze landed on.

"Rather dumb, aren't they?"

A few uneasy chuckles sounded here and there.

"Not that any of you are better. Sitting around, watching the transphobic shitheads gang up on Harry. There's nothing, absolutely nothing, stopping me from hexing each and every one of you. Get out of my sight. All of you!"

Every student quickly scurried out of the room, leaving just Harry and Draco.

"You didn't need to do that, Drake. I had it handled." Harry said quietly. Draco rolled his eyes.

"What are you, a Gryffindor? Accept the hand that helps you, rather than biting it."

Harry let out a breath and sat on the edge of his bed, then ran a hand through his hair, hand slightly shaking. Harry felt the bed dip as Draco sat beside him, and a weight landed on his shoulders from Draco's arm.

"You know you're just making your hair look messier, right? Although it works. Gives you that sexy, gorgeous without trying, look."

Harry's cheeks warmed. Was Draco calling him sexy? And gorgeous?

Draco pats Harry's back lightly. "You alright?"

Harry nodded, not meeting his eye. "Yeah I think I'm just gonna turn in for the night...thank you, Draco."

Draco left Harry to his own devices, and Harry flopped back on his bed, heart fluttering. He'd begun to wonder if he had heart issues. Harry turned on his side, half way curled up. He thought back to what his summer with Draco had been like. The mouth watering food Draco always pushed Harry to eat. The worried looks he would catch Draco giving him, and sometimes...sometimes there was another emotion, one all too intimate and soft for Harry.

Harry supposed that Draco had caught on to Harry being abused and underfed by the Dursley's long ago. He often made offers to let Harry live with him permanently, but Harry knew he wouldn't be allowed. He couldn't even stay with his Godfather, he only saw him sporadically on un-authroized visits. No, Harry was doomed to live with the Dursley's, and he could do nothing about it.


Harry's sharp eyes were on the look out for the golden snitch. He was hovering in the air, cold wind biting at his cheeks, the faint roar of the crowd serving as background noise. Harry loved Quidditch. Whenever he played he felt truly free, and light as a bird, almost like his worries had been left on the ground. The games always felt like a moment of clarity for him. His name would be chanted when he won a game, and a party would be thrown. Harry always basked for as long as possible in the after glow of a win.

But this game, something felt different. Harry's eyes kept drifting over to where Draco was in the air. His eyes kept picking up the way the light would make Draco's hair look stark white. How Draco's sharp eyes cut across the field, how his cheeks were faintly pink due to the cold. The way he would shout in jubilation, and how he would call his name. Harry's name sounded so beautiful on those lips, except now Draco looked panicked.

"Harry! HARRY MOVE!"

Harry looked at him quizzically, then glanced around. There was a split second where everything clicked. Oh, Harry thought idly, I'm going to have my face smashed in by a bludger. How lovely- And that's the last thought Harry Potter had before he fell off his broom, face bleeding profusely.

III

The first thing Harry heard, when he woke up, was the faint tutting of Madame Pomfrey, and his name being whispered.

The first thing Harry felt, when he woke up, was a hand gently squeezing his own. It felt like quite a delicate hand, one with slender fingers.

The first thing Harry saw, when he woke up, was Draco Malfoy's piercing grey eyes looking at him, filled with worry. That much Harry could tell without his glasses.

"Harry? Are you awake now?"

Harry looked around, vaguely disoriented. "Hm? What happened to the game? I thought-" Harry gasped and shot upright, making pain course through his head.

"The game! Draco did we lose?!"

Draco nodded solemnly, then gently pushed Harry's shoulders so he laid down again. Harry winced and grabbed his head.

"I'm sorry, Drake, I dunno what happened..."

Draco gave Harry a comforting smile. "It's alright, Harry. Foul play is suspected."

Harry squinted at Draco. "Foul play? But I was the one that got distracted."

Draco smirked, mischief dancing on his face. "It does good to have a bit of influence. I saved your dignity."

Harry couldn't help but grin. "Who'd you have to bribe, eh?"

Draco put a finger over his lips, then reached over and grabbed Harry's glasses. Harry laid still while Draco put his glasses on, ever so gently. Harry's eyes fluttered when he felt Draco's finger tips ghost across his cheek, as if he were caressing him. The moment was ruined by a rather obnoxious throat clearing. Harry glanced over and saw Madame Pomfrey standing behind Draco, hands on her hips.

"Visiting time is over, Mr. Malfoy. You'll see Harry tomorrow, once he's fully healed."

Draco sighed and patted Harry's hand lightly. "See you then, Harry."

Harry watched Draco go before Madame Pomfrey started poking and prodding his face.


Harry hated studying, more than anything. Well, that's not true. It was a close tie with homework. Harry was grateful he had Draco to help him bullshit all his work into good grades. For the millionth time, Harry's thoughts had wandered back to Draco. They seemed to be doing that a lot recently.

"Hi Haaaarryyyy."

Harry looked up from his thoughts at the sound of a sultry, feminine voice. He turned in his seat and saw Pansy Parkinson.

"Oh, er, hello Pansy."

Harry glanced around, noticing that he and Pansy were the only ones occupying the library. Warning bells sounded in Harry's head and he quickly stood up, stuffing his books and parchment in his bag. The moment Harry turned around, he was pinned by the hips to the table. Pansy was alarmingly close, a flirty smile gracing her lips.

"In a hurry to leave?"

Harry's mouth felt dry. "Uh..."

A light giggle was the response he got. "No need to be afraid, Harry dear." Pansy twirled a bit of Harry's curly lock around her finger. "After all, I'm only asking you out."

Harry stared at her. "...asking me out? I'm not-"

Pansy leaned impossibly closer. "I was thinking we could go somewhere on a trip to Hogsmeade-"

"I'm gay!" Harry felt his cheeks burn up. Why had he said that?! Didn't he have a filter? Harry watched as disappointment settled heavy on Pansy's face and she took a step back.

"Oh, so the rumors are true then?"

Harry was at a loss for words, and Pansy sighed lightly. "Oh well. Ta!"

Harry watched at Pansy walked away, clutching his bag to his chest. He'd never admitted his sexuality out loud, and now he had, to some girl. A Slytherin girl, no less! Draco had a strong feeling everyone is school would be buzzing about it for weeks. Harry took a deep breath and went straight to his dorm room, avoiding everyone. It already felt as if every student he passed was staring at him.

Harry made a beeline for his bed, then snapped the curtains shut. Maybe he could stay here his whole life. That wouldn't be so bad, would it? He could just summon a house elf to bring him food everyday. Although, Draco would miss him sorely. Harry let out a breath and curled up. He was royally fucked.

Sure enough, within a few days students were back to hissing slurs at Harry. Harry did what every good Slytherin did. Remembered each student, kept his head up, and ignored them with his nose in the air. They didn't deserve the satisfaction of seeing how they affected Harry. He didn't let them see that each word felt like a stab wound to his heart. Harry was trudging his way up to the common rooms after a long day when Draco caught up to him. Harry didn't want to admit that he'd been avoiding Draco.

"Harry! Why have the little shits started up again? Everyone's treating the rumor as if it's fact now. The hell happened?"

Harry swallowed and avoided his eye contact. "Pansy Parkinson asked me out the other day."

Draco made a sound of disapproval. "I hope to gods you turned her down, she's quite slimy."

"I turned her down."

"Smart move I say. I'm assuming she got all up and might about it?" Draco raises his voice a pitch. "Harry Potter turned me down?! Why, he must be gay!"

Harry felt himself sweating. "Actually I... I told her I was gay."

Draco stopped walking and looked at Harry. After a beat, Harry's hands began to shake. "You can't be serious. That's how you turned her down? You could have just simply said no."

Harry wiped his palms on his robes. "I'm serious I... it was the truth." The last part came out in a whisper and Harry cursed himself for it. Why couldn't he say it with his usual confidence? Harry nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw not fury or disgust on Draco's face like he expected, but affection.

"That's alright Harry. But... why didn't you tell me?"

Harry felt tears well up behind his eyes. "I was scared."

Harry was enveloped in the most warm and comfortable hug he had ever experienced. "Oh Harry, Harry Harry Harry." He felt tears start to fall down his cheeks. "Never be afraid to tell me anything. I'll always be here for you Harry, you know that right?"

Harry nodded and Draco gave him a squeeze. "We'll always be together Harry. No matter what."

Harry felt his heart warm, and two stayed like that for Merlin knows how long, simply holding each other until Harry's tears stopped falling. Harry had no more doubts in his mind that Draco was the truest friend he could ever have. He'd never felt such love before, and was grateful it was coming from the hands of someone he trusted more than anyone else. Harry was the luckiest boy alive to have someone like Draco Malfoy in his life.


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