Disclaimer: Not Mine.

Author's Notes: Thanks guys for all the wonderful reviews. So nice to see that you appreciated the 'aww' factor in the last chapter. Similar in this one, though it does earn it's adult rating, so be warned. If you're not old enough to be reading it then...don't get caught. :P There will possibly be another 4 chapters - this is the last aww one, then we head in for some angst before a happy type ending.

Much love to you all and enjoy

jamie

xxxxx

The weeks leading up to Draco's birthday Ball were some of the happiest Draco could remember. After reconciling with Harry and agreeing to virtual celibacy – in Draco's opinion anyway; Harry decided that snogging and the occasional mutual wanking session were sufficient activities to be going on with – Draco found that he really quite enjoyed getting to know the real Harry Potter.

Harry really was what he purported to be: safe and steady and strong. And, as Draco lamented most nights as he took himself and his arousal into his own hands, too bloody gorgeous to be sleeping alone every night. Sometimes Draco provoked arguments; he still found it ridiculously easy to wind Harry up. He accepted they would always have that effect on each other and he wouldn't change it for the world. The times Harry was angry with him were the times that he was most likely to forget his desire to take things slowly, and Draco would find himself slammed against a wall and brutally ravished. He loved every second of it and relived it in his fantasies at night.

They still frequented nightclubs for the dancing. Only when they took to the dance floor there wasn't much dancing being done. Unless snogging your boyfriend while grinding into his leg counted as dancing. And each time they left, Draco knew with a certainty that Harry was leaving with a hard-on threatening to split his trousers. Some nights Draco would offer to take care of it for him. Some nights Harry would accept and Draco would drop to his knees as soon as they reached the safety of the bedroom, and take Harry's cock so far in that when Harry came, he didn't even taste it; it just spurted straight down his throat, threatening to choke him. Some nights Harry would refuse, but Draco would sneak into Harry's bedroom and listen at the bathroom door, vigorously palming himself through his clothes while he heard Harry wanking just as furiously behind the door. Draco always thought it was a waste of an opportunity to get Harry's cock in his mouth - oh, how he loved the feel of that heavy, hard length filling his mouth - but he'd promised not to rush or force things and so he let Harry deal with those nights alone.

But to his delight, he also found himself enjoying the warm blanket of Harry's arms around him, settling him in a peaceful haze of comfort and security. After a long day of interviews and fittings and meetings and so many people relentlessly after Draco's attention, it was heaven to be able to relax into Harry's undemanding arms and rest.

Draco was finding what his peace was.

He found his peace in arriving for breakfast to see Harry's hair looking like the pillow had attacked it during the night. Draco wished he could be the pillow Harry rested his weary head on.

He also found it in Harry holding his hand in public; declaring to the world that they were together. In the past, Draco had felt that Harry should be the one showering gratitude on Draco for the attention. Now, he felt undeniable happiness that Harry was choosing him, Draco Malfoy, to be with.

It was seeing the little glances Harry flicked at him when he was worried Draco was tiring from their busy schedule – which had only become busier since the revelation of their relationship in the newspapers. Draco felt cared for.

It was seeing the pleasure and desire deep in Harry's eyes when he looked at him. Draco had always taken admiration as his due, but now, under Harry's regard he was glad he could make Harry look so happy.

It was in a hundred other things Draco discovered that went to make up the Chosen One, and he found he liked them all.

And consequently, his mother, Pansy and Blaise all noticed how much happier Draco was and tried in their own ways to get him to give up on his plan. Which he had done, but wasn't prepared to admit it just yet, carrying an irrational fear that should he admit to his feelings about Harry, it would all fall down around him.

His mother was the most subtle, for which Draco was grateful. She merely smiled at him and wondered what Harry might like for his birthday, which was several weeks after Draco's Ball. Draco was extremely thankful for his mother not pressing, but letting him know in her own way that she knew Draco had fallen for the Chosen One.

He kissed his mother's cheek. 'I think Harry will be happy with whatever you choose, Mother, you have impeccable taste.'

She smiled at him and patted his cheek. 'I'm sure I'll find the perfect thing. I'll have to seeing as he makes you so happy.'

Draco blushed lightly and turned away. 'Thank you, Mother.'

'You're welcome.'

'Perhaps I should be asking when Hortin's birthday is.' Draco smiled at her.

'I'm sure I don't know,' she replied ingenuously. Draco laughed.

'I'll ask him myself, then. If he makes my mother happy, then I suppose I need to welcome him to the family appropriately.'

'Be nice,' she warned.

'I always am,' Draco retorted.

…

Pansy and Blaise were more direct. Blaise wondered whether the press would be bad when he broke up with the Golden Boy and was he sure it was worth the bad publicity? Why didn't he just stay with Harry?

Pansy was blunt. As if Draco expected anything different. And while he knew that they'd both be in favour of this relationship, he still couldn't bring himself to admit to anyone else that he'd been wrong. Consequently, Pansy would say things like, 'You're an arse if you let him get away,' and 'I can see through your mask, darling,' and 'as much as I love you, Draco, you are going to have to grow a pair at some point and admit you've fallen for him.'

Draco refused to answer her; he neither confirmed nor denied anything. It frustrated Pansy to such an extent that Draco carried the bruises on his arms for days from where she'd whacked him.

…

The investigation into who had attacked them took an interesting twist just the day before Draco's party.

'Ron wants to speak with us about the investigation,' Harry said as he walked into the lounge room. Ron followed Harry, and Draco smiled at both of them. He'd been relaxing in the early sun, reading on a precious day off.

He'd never admit it but Draco appreciated the time off these days. Mere months ago he'd have been shocked to find himself enjoying time out of the limelight, away from his hordes of fans, but in the past few weeks, he'd come to value the time he and Harry spent together, preferring the attention of one Harry Potter to his thousands of fans or strangers. Not that he'd give up his celebrity, not for anything. No, being admired and loved by everyone was still his aim. But he did enjoy his time off.

'I gather by the look on your face that you have some good news,' Draco said.

Ron looked positively smug. Harry sat down beside Draco and rested his hand warmly on Draco's thigh. Ron rolled his eyes when he saw Harry's action but Draco didn't mind. By now he was used to Ron's manner.

'I do and it's all due to the comment you made the other week at the Dinner.'

'The one about Madam Malkin?'

'That's the one.' Ron took a seat opposite them and leaned forward until his elbows rested on his knees. 'We did some discreet investigating but couldn't find anything to incriminate her. There had been some overseas travel but that was easily explained as buying trips for the season's new fashions.'

Draco was puzzled; he really didn't think Madam Malkin had anything to do with the attacks, so where Ron was going with his story was a mystery.

'Hang on,' Harry interrupted. 'What's all this about Madam Malkin?'

Draco turned to him. 'Remember the day you stood up for me when she wanted to serve you first even though I had been waiting?'

'Ah, yes, I do remember that. Caught you looking at ladies lingerie afterwards.' Harry grinned at Draco and squeezed his thigh.

Draco scowled playfully. 'Just for that I will not be dressing up in any ladies sexy bits to satisfy your curiosity.'

'Too much information,' Ron cried out, laughing. 'I really don't want to know what you two get up to in private.'

Draco laughed as he saw Harry blushing. That was interesting; perhaps Harry really would like to see him in some lacy, frilly underthings. Maybe doing a long seductive striptease for him. That could be arranged. Definitely. Draco did like pretty things, after all.

Harry called Ron to continue, still blushing. He was adorable when he blushed.

'We thought we'd have to let it go as there was no solid evidence of her involvement, just your speculation about her motive and a vague idea that if the potion came from overseas then she had the means to obtain it.'

'So, what happened?' Draco asked. 'I assume something did or there'd be no point to this story.'

'We sent someone to her shop, undercover. Found an Auror directly out of the Academy. Dimity Harris. Good family, pure-blood. She'd never been into the shop apart from buying school uniforms. Madam Malkin didn't know she had recently been sworn in as an Auror. Harris started a conversation in which she voiced some derogatory opinions about both of you, hoping Madam Malkin might incriminate herself.'

Draco frowned. 'And did she?'

'She mentioned that you possibly deserved what happened to you,' Ron said, looking at Draco.

'Stupid cow,' Draco muttered.

'And she said that Harry wasn't all he was cracked up to be and that one day his choices would bite him on the arse. Especially if he kept up with the 'Death Eater' scum, as she called you.'

'Well, that's pretty tame, really,' Draco said thoughtfully. 'She's been known for toadying up to her clients, saying what they want to hear. I don't believe she actually meant that stuff about Harry. Though I can believe the Death Eater bit.'

'Be that as it may,' Ron said. 'The fact that she said it about Harry was enough to get us authority to search her premises and guess what we found when we searched her workroom?'

'The same poison that was used to try and kill me?' Draco asked, knowing the answer already.

Ron nodded. 'That's right.'

'She could've had that there for any number of reasons,' Harry said.

Ron shook his head. 'It's not a common poison, Harry; you found that out yourself. What are the chances of two people having it?'

'I don't know,' Harry said, shaking his head. 'It just doesn't feel right, though. What happened doesn't seem like motive to kill both of us.'

'Robards disagrees. He reckons we've got the right person. Especially seeing as when she was asked why she had the poison she couldn't give a believable answer.'

'She was probably all flustered by being accused of attempted murder,' Draco said, even though he shouldn't be feeling quite so charitable toward someone who had treated him so shabbily. Perhaps she deserved being thrown in a cell and interrogated by Aurors. Maybe then she might learn to treat people with respect in future. He still wasn't convinced that she was guilty, even though he couldn't put a finger on why, but if the Aurors did, then he'd have to take their word for it.

'And didn't the waiter at the restaurant say it was a male?' Harry asked. Draco had forgotten that but now realised that was probably why he'd not taken the suggestion of Madam Malkin being the villain seriously. It was supposed to be a man.

'And no criminal ever used Polyjuice potion?'

Ron had a point. There was no way of telling exactly who it had been at the restaurant with any certainty.

Draco exhaled and allowed himself to believe it might be all over.

'Well, that's good news, I suppose,' Harry said slowly. Draco looked at him, wondering why he still seemed doubtful. 'What will happen now?'

'Well, you'll be expected back at work once Draco's party is over with. The security on both of you and the Manor will be scaled down after the party tomorrow and things can return to normal.'

Draco's eyes met Harry's and he understood then why Harry's relief at catching the culprit was so reserved. The look in Harry's eyes made it clear he was worried about where their relationship would go from here. Once there was no security, there would be no need for Harry to live at the Manor. Draco smiled and leaned over to kiss him gently on the lips. Harry was his now, and there was no way Draco was going to let him get away. Harry could continue living in the Manor for as long as he wanted. Draco hoped sooner rather than later his nights would be spent in Draco's bed with Draco and not in the spare room.

'As long as you stay with me in the Manor, I don't care what the security does.'

'You want me to stay? I have my own place.'

'Of course I want you to stay. Keep your own place if you like.' He grinned. 'The way we argue, I'm sure sooner or later you'll storm out in a huff and I won't see you for days.'

Harry laughed and returned the kiss. 'I can virtually guarantee it.'

'If you two are going to get all kissy-face then I'm leaving,' Ron said.

'No need to run away, Ron,' Draco said, keeping his eyes only for Harry. 'You might learn something that'll help you with Granger.'

He turned to look at Ron – who blushed madly - and laughed. 'You could just ask her out, you know. She's been throwing you hints for years. People already think you're together anyway; you're always seen together at functions and things.'

'We bicker all the time, though. Half the time we can barely stay friends. I'm sure you're mistaken.'

'You think Harry and I are mistaken? The way we fight?'

'You two are just mental.' Ron rolled his eyes but he was grinning bashfully, now.

'Draco's the mental one,' Harry said, pinching Draco's waist.

Draco thumped his arm playfully. 'Now we know who starts these fights. Bully.' He turned to Ron. 'I'm serious. It's all that unresolved sexual tension.'

'Tension of one sort or other anyway,' Harry added. 'I used to have to listen to him wanking over her all through Auror school.'

'Too much information,' Draco groaned, covering his ears.

'Thanks, mate,' Ron replied, blushing so hard he lost his freckles.

'You're going to give me nightmares now, Harry,' Draco complained. 'I expect you to come to my bed and soothe my frightened…body.'

Harry laughed. 'Always angling for something more.'

'Of course.' There was no rule against trying, was there? Draco smirked before turning back to Ron. 'You can never beat asking a direct question, you know.'

'This coming from someone as devious as you?' Harry joked.

'I'll have you know that asking a direct question is a very sound tactic. It's the element of surprise that gets you more truth than if you pussy foot around and waffle over every little thing.'

'Did you just say pussy foot and waffle?' Harry roared in laughter, making Draco scowl.

'Oh…you…' Draco stood. 'At least I'm not a four-eyed git with a messiah complex,' he snapped and stalked from the room. So much for not laughing at him when he let his guard down. Bloody twat.

Harry caught up with him and they made up, of course. He told Draco he was being too sensitive and Draco tried to argue back, but Harry almost suffocated him with his mouth instead. After that, Draco didn't say a word; he was too busy trying to reassemble his brain. Make-up snogging was always staggering, and Draco's knees never failed to weaken when being kissed to within an inch of his life by Harry.

There was something to be said for being too sensitive.

….

The day of Draco's birth dawned sunny and bright with early summer sunshine. The birds were twittering so loudly outside Draco's window, he wanted to throw something at them. However, when he remembered it was his birthday, he smiled instead and rolled onto his back, stretching out so that his spine clicked.

As was tradition, except for the years at Hogwarts, he would be having breakfast in bed and then there would be gifts downstairs in the lounge. He called Pippy and ordered breakfast, then languished comfortably in bed, idly stroking his morning erection. And thinking of Harry with a little sigh of wistfulness. There'd be no better birthday present than Harry in his bed, he thought. After nearly a month of being together, Draco wondered how much longer he was going to have to wait. He wasn't a particularly patient man, and he'd surprised himself by how well he'd taken to having a boyfriend he didn't have sex with, but the need to be fucked was eating away at him and he hoped that he'd not have to wait too much longer.

Pippy arrived with his birthday breakfast of bacon and eggs, juice and coffee. An envelope addressed to him sat by his juice on the tray. Draco smiled. For as long as he could remember, his mother had sent him a happy birthday greeting first thing in the morning. It always made him smile to know that she cared that much about him to want to be the first to wish him happy birthday.

Balancing the tray on his lap, he opened the envelope and read the contents. A warm feeling grew in his chest when he read his mother's words of love, her wishing nothing more than his happiness and her pride in having such a wonderful son. Even through all the rough years they'd had, she never failed to find the words to make Draco feel worthy of being her son. It made him love her even more and determined to never let her down.

A knock on the door made him look up. 'Yes?' he called.

The door opened and Harry's head appeared. 'May I come in?'

'Of course,' Draco said, smiling brightly. Perhaps he could persuade Harry to take care of the morning erection that was still sitting heavy in his lap. It was his birthday after all; he deserved something.

His cock twitched in an eager reminder of what it needed when Harry walked into the room. Apparently he slept like Draco, wearing only pyjama pants, which hung unevenly low on his hips, like he'd forgotten to pull them up all the way. When he walked, the pants threatened to slide down completely. Fuck, Draco thought as his eyes raked over Harry's chest, he was like one of Draco's fantasies. Not having sex with this was a complete waste, Draco lamented. Again. Draco blamed the lack of sex for his obsession with it.

He took a deep breath and belatedly noticed that Harry was carrying a small gift. And wore an adorably awkward look on his face.

'Happy Birthday, Draco,' he said. He sat on the edge of the bed and held the gift out.

Draco held his lips up for a kiss, and Harry dutifully kissed him deeply for several moments until a whimper was drawn from Draco's throat.

'Are you all right?' Harry asked, pulling back.

'No, I'm not,' he replied.

'What's wrong?' Harry's immediate concern gave Draco a twinge of conscience at making him worry over nothing more than an erection badly in need of assistance.

'You, damn you,' Draco said, opting for honesty. 'You're the subject of all of my fantasies, you walk in here looking like one of my wet dreams when I still have a morning erection and then you kiss me like that! I'm aching here, Harry,' he whined.

Harry blushed but his face cleared of worry and his eyes widened in pleasure. Harry was going to be the death of him; Draco just knew it. There was only so much he could take.

'I'm sorry. Should I leave, then?' Harry asked, recovering.

'No, you can bloody well watch me,' Draco growled, moving the tray from his lap to the side of the bed and shoving the bed covers down to his knees. Harry didn't move but Draco didn't care anymore. He needed to come too badly to be worried about what Harry was doing now. He lifted his hips slightly to drag his pyjama pants down past his hips, freeing his throbbing erection which looked eager to be held and stroked.

Ignoring Harry's gasp, Draco closed his eyes and wrapped a hand around his cock, almost whimpering in relief. 'This is what you do to me, Harry. Every fucking time you kiss me or look at me.'

He could hear Harry's breathing, uneven over his own short inhalations. Draco had not displayed himself to Harry before, any previous wanking done under decorous amounts of clothing, and the knowledge that he was obviously affected made Draco spread his legs and slide down into the bed more. He had the room to stretch and arch his back, making a better show.

Draco opened his eyes to see Harry's reactions to watching him wank. Harry's face was flushed, with eyes riveted to Draco's groin, watching Draco's hand stroking up and down, watching his thumb linger over the slit in the head. Seeing how it affected Harry made every stroke that much more laden with meaning.

'You could always help out here, you know. It is my birthday.' Even though he was trying to tease, his voice came out uneven from the rough strokes and the way his hips were rocking in time with his hand movements.

'I-I…well, yes I could.' Despite the hesitation in his tone, Harry looked determined.

'It's just like wanking yourself, Harry,' Draco encouraged. 'But hurry up. You look so damned good I'm not going to last much longer.' Draco arched his back involuntarily and groaned as his arousal stepped up a notch.

'No, I–'

'Fine,' Draco growled. 'I'll do it myself.' Fuck where was this legendary bravery he'd heard about? What good was Harry if he was too squeamish to even give Draco a handjob? Was any sex they might manage to have need to be in the dark and fully clothed?

A hand closed around the one stroking Draco's cock and he stopped, looking at Harry.

Always an intense green, Harry's eyes were dark with desire. A fiery need blazed brightly in them. 'I meant,' he said, repositioning himself on the bed. 'That I'd rather suck this beautiful cock instead.'

Draco was too stunned to comment. Harry licked his lips, looked doubtful for barely a second, then he resolutely leaned forward and traced the length of Draco's cock with his tongue.

Fuck. Harry's tongue left a trail of fire burning from the base right to the tip, and Draco could do nothing but drop his head back and let his body talk for him.

'Tell me if I do it wrong?' Harry asked. Draco looked up to see the hint of anxiety in Harry's expression.

'You can't do too much wrong as long as you don't use your teeth,' he replied hoarsely.

'I know that much from Gi– being on the receiving end.' Harry grinned and lowered his head again to Draco's cock, taking just the head into his mouth. It was enough for Draco to groan at the warmth and want to thrust deeply, but he held still, not quite believing that his was the first cock Harry had ever tasted.

Harry might be inexperienced and slightly hesitant about trying different techniques, but Draco felt it every time Harry's tongue slid along his cock, every time teeth scraped gently over the sensitive places that made him gasp in pleasure or wince at the slight pain.

'Yes, Harry…just like that.' Draco voiced his approval as Harry's tongue rubbed over the head of his cock, sending shivers up Draco's spine.

Draco allowed himself to slip his hands through Harry's silky, albeit messy, bed hair, though he couldn't keep watching his cock slip between Harry's wet warm lips. It was too intense, and made him want to fuck Harry's mouth relentlessly until he came; but Harry wasn't ready for that. Instead, he satisfied himself with feeling every small movement of Harry's head though his hands. He tried to focus on just how wonderful it felt to have his cock in Harry's mouth; how each time Harry's tongue rubbed over a sensitive spot, Draco felt the thrill shoot right to his toes and back deep in his groin.

It didn't matter that occasionally Harry's teeth scraped a fraction too hard, or that barely three inches of his cock was being sucked on, surrendering to Harry's mouth made it all the more arousing and Draco knew that he wasn't going to last long.

The gentle touch of a hand on his balls sent Draco soaring and caused his hips to lift off the bed. Harry was fondling his balls and sucking hard on his cock. In his fantasies, Harry had done just this but the reality of it was so much better. Everything became hazy after that, and Draco barely had time to breathlessly warn Harry and pull his cock free of Harry's mouth, before his whole body seized and he came all over his stomach.

When he could finally open his eyes, he saw Harry still lying on the bed beside him, looking rather smug. And beautiful with a mouth that looked like it had been well and truly fucked.

'Happy birthday to me,' Draco breathed. 'You sure you've never given a blowjob before?'

'Nope.' Harry grinned. 'Well, I mean, yes, I'm sure I've never done that before.'

Draco sighed. 'Another thing the bloody Chosen One is brilliant at,' he grumbled, too satiated to be really disgruntled about it. Besides, Harry was his now so he would be the one benefiting from that excellent skill.

Harry laughed. 'I think I just had good material to work with.'

'Of course,' Draco preened and then laughed along with Harry.

'And one day I will learn how to take you all the way in like you do for me.'

'Oh?' Draco was pleased about that. Not because he expected Harry to be able to deep throat him - not everyone could - but because Harry wanted to learn to do it.

'Yeah.' Harry nodded. 'Can't let you do something better than me, now, can I?'

'Merlin forbid I be better than you at something, Harry,' Draco said. He was smiling, though. 'Anyway, it's my birthday and I thank you for my present; it was wonderful.'

'You're welcome.'

'What made you want to do that? Just because it was my birthday?'

'No, you're just that damned irresistible, and when you decided to wank right in front of me, I knew I had to do something.' Harry grinned and pushed the hair back from Draco's forehead, making Draco want to nuzzle into his hand. 'You've been so good about waiting, too, and I realise how hard it must be for you.'

Harry was going to be a snuggler after sex; Draco just knew it.

And that was quite all right with him.

'Here,' Harry said. 'You forgot to open your present.'

'I think I've already received my present,' he replied, but he sat up and took the small gift from Harry's hand and unwrapped it, eager to see what Harry had bought him.

When he removed the item from layers of soft tissue, it appeared to be a plain silver band for his wrist. It was beautiful, but seemed an odd gift.

'It's beautiful, Harry, thank you,' he said, leaning over and kissing Harry firmly. He slid the band over his hand onto his wrist and it immediately tightened to fit properly. Draco thought it suited him and he held his arm out looking at it from different angles.

'It actually has a dual purpose,' Harry said. Harry held out his own arm, showing a matching silver band on his wrist. 'It's a variation on a mood bracelet that Muggles have. What this one does is sense your mood. It's spelled to transfer any feelings of things like fear, danger, and persecution, that type of thing, to my bracelet so I'll know if you're ever in any danger.'

Draco ran his fingers over the band suddenly extremely thankful he'd taken the time to sort things out with Harry. 'You did this for me?'

Harry nodded, smiling. 'Of course. I'm not about to let anything bad happen to you now I've found you. They're not that hard to make, actually. This will heat up and warn me,' he said, indicating his own band. 'Hermione made something similar in fifth year as a communication device. This is just a variation of that.'

'You weren't tempted to add in feelings of lust and arousal?' Draco asked cheekily.

'No, they're private,' Harry said, shifting to take Draco into his arms. 'Besides, I know you're always thinking about sex anyway.'

Harry laughed, and Draco punched him lightly in the ribs before snuggling up into his side.

'Neanderthal.'

'Yes, but I am your Neanderthal, apparently.'

'Good.'

'Hm.'

'Thank you, Harry.'

'You're welcome.'

'We should get up, I suppose.'

'Or not. We have a big day; we can afford to have a bit of a lie-in. Besides, you haven't eaten your breakfast yet.'

Draco sighed happily. He was quite comfortable and had no inclination to sit up properly and eat. 'You feed me and I'll eat.'

Harry snorted. 'I'm not your slave, you lazy git.'

'Should be,' he shot back playfully. 'I need minions to do my bidding.'

'Thought that's what your house-elves were for.'

Draco ignored that remark and pretended he was asleep.

Which lasted all of about a minute before Harry smacked his arse and told him to eat his breakfast. Grumbling about abusive boyfriends, he did as he was told, feeling very satisfied about the state of his life.