All the Answers - Chapter 24

Disclaimer - It's not mine. Really. J.K. Rowling's the brilliant mind behind HP.

Notes - Post-HBP 7th year fic, not Deathly Hallows compliant at all. Eventually it will be Harry/Draco, thus the M rating. Beta'd by the wonderful Lori!

"Ginny!" Harry exclaimed, trying to untangle himself from her arms. She released him but didn't step back, so she was still well within his personal space.

"Oh, Harry, I'm so glad you're alright," she said, as Hermione rushed past and flew straight into Ron's – who still looked liked Harry – arms. "Hermione told me you were off doing something dangerous," Ginny continued. "But she refused to tell me what. Is everything okay?"

Harry ignored the question. "Ginny," he said again. "What – why are you here?"

Ginny frowned for a moment, but then her lips quirked upward in a small smile. "Christmas is in a few days, silly. I'm on winter break from Hogwarts."

Was it really? Harry blinked, wondering how that much time had passed already, and automatically glanced at Hermione for confirmation – except she was busy peppering kisses all over Ron's face, which was a disturbing sight since it was still his face.

"What took you all so long?" Hermione asked, pulling back enough to ask the question but keeping her hand wrapped around Ron's. "I've been out of my mind with worry!"

Dobby hopped nervously from foot to foot. "Dobby was taking awhile," he said. "The wards was very complicated! And dark."

"It wasn't you, you did great," Ron said, grinning down at the elf. "We just ran into a couple of snags."

"And a couple of Death Eaters," Draco added dryly.

Hermione's grip on Ron's hand tightened. "Did you at least – get what you went for?"

Draco crossed his arms and smirked over at Ron. "Weasley killed the snake," he said, and both Harry's and Hermione's jaws dropped.

"That was you?" Harry said. "Ron, that's – that's amazing!" He laughed. "Well done!"

"He cast Sectumsempra on it," Draco said in a wry tone, while Ron flushed slightly and looked pleased.

"It wasn't anything, really," he said. "Malfoy was the real impressive one. He had all of them fooled, even Voldemort–"

"Only because Weasley did some excellent acting, too," Draco cut in. "The only thing he couldn't pull off was faking an understanding of Parseltongue."

"Yeah, but you didn't even crack when he had you under the Cruciatus," Ron said.

Harry's eyes went wide as he spun to face Draco. "He had you under–?"

"But you even managed to stop Greyback from killing me!" Draco interrupted again, and Harry could only roll his eyes at that point because, seriously, only those two would actually try to out-compliment each other.

"I don't understand," said Ginny. "Why did you have to kill a snake?"

The others went quiet and glanced at each other, and then Draco frowned suddenly. "Hang on, Potter. You knew we killed it?"

"Yeah, of course," Harry said. "I felt it." He gestured at his scar. "You know, like with – like…last time." He shot a guilty look at Ginny, who propped her hands on her hips and scowled.

"Why can't you just tell me what you're going on about?" she asked, starting to sound upset.

Draco didn't even seem to notice she'd posed a question and spoke before anyone could answer. "You felt it," he repeated. "Even though you weren't anywhere near the Dark Lord."

"No…I wasn't." Harry's brow furrowed. "I went the opposite direction you two did. What are you getting at, Malfoy?"

"We had to make a mad dash out of the room after Weasley sliced the bloody thing's head off," Draco said. "And the farther we got, the less my mark hurt." He looked at Hermione, who had gone a bit pale. "The mark only hurt when I was near Voldemort. I'm guessing last time it hurt because we were near – well." He finally glanced Ginny's way, but then turned back to Hermione almost immediately. "You know where I'm going with this, Hermione, I know you do. You've noticed it, too. If Potter's scar hurt when he wasn't near the – thing, or Voldemort himself…"

"Look, just spit it out already. What exactly are you trying to say?" Harry asked. He didn't like that they seemed to know something he didn't.

Hermione shook her head. "We shouldn't jump to conclusions," she said, and then aimed a pointed look in Ginny's direction. "And we can discuss it later."

Ginny threw her hands up in the air. "You lot are always so damn secretive!" she cried, and then jabbed a finger toward Draco. "And since when has he called you Hermione? What's going on with all of you? I could help, too, you know!"

"We can't tell you, Ginny," Harry said, in a pained sort of way. "Dumbledore didn't want me spreading it around–"

"Oh, but you can tell Malfoy?" Ginny interrupted. "Seriously?"

Harry floundered for words, uncertain how to explain, but Draco just scowled. "I think I've earned the right to know," he said, and Ginny gave an incredulous laugh.

"Oh really? Earned it, have you?" She crossed her arms, glowering. "Must be nice that you were given the chance to earn it."

"For fuck's sake, Weasley – other Weasley – stop whining," Draco snapped. "We don't always get what we want, alright? You adventuring across the countryside as part of Potter's quest to vanquish evil from the planet isn't going to happen. Get over it."

Ginny's eyes flared up, suddenly full of the blazing energy that Harry used to love about her. Except at the moment it was an angry energy, and a furious look quickly spread over Ginny's face. Somewhere around Harry's knee, Dobby whimpered.

"No," she said tightly, barely sounding in control of her own voice, and Harry abruptly realized that she was just as upset as she was mad. "Because you stepped in and filled the four-person quota right up, didn't you? Because you're so useful – the only good thing you've ever managed to do was fail at killing Dumbledore!"

Draco immediately tensed up, but it was Ron who stepped in and grabbed Ginny's arm, saying to her in a low voice, "Stop it, Ginny. Malfoy's more than proved himself – he's nearly died about three separate times already and he hasn't done a damn thing to put the rest of us in danger. You're out of line."

"And you're my brother," Ginny said thickly. She ripped her arm out of Ron's grip, looking betrayed, and stormed out of the entry hall.

Harry made an exasperated sound. "Ginny!" he called. He took one step after her, and Draco gave him a disgusted look.

"I'm going to take a shower," he muttered, and headed up the stairs before anyone could stop him.

"…Harry Potter, sir?" Dobby spoke up meekly. Harry glanced down at him. "Is Dobby being needed here anymore?"

"No, Dobby, I'm sorry," Harry said with a sigh. "You were brilliant today. Tell Kreacher I said hello, will you?"

Dobby nodded, gave Harry a little salute, and then Disapparated on the spot.

Harry sighed again, more in frustration this time, and took another step in the direction Ginny had gone.

Then he paused.

"If you're confused, it's because the stairs aren't over there," Ron said. "They're this way."

Harry hesitated. "But Ginny…"

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said softly. "Is that really who you want to go after?"

"She'll cool off on her own," Ron said. "Just – make up your mind already, yeah?" He headed for the stairs himself, tugging Hermione along with him. "I'm going to go change. Don't want to turn back into me when I'm still wearing your clothes."

"You're so much shorter like this," Harry listened to Hermione say as their voices faded away. "It's a little bit weird…"

He stood there for a moment, shifting his weight from foot to foot, and then all at once he swore, because who was he kidding, really? He was being ridiculous, especially considering he'd just spent half the day panicking that something had happened to Draco.

Without wasting another second, Harry took the stairs two at a time and marched down the hallway until he made it to the bathroom. He could hear the water running and when he tried the doorknob, he found that it was unlocked.

"Malfoy?" Harry called cautiously, as he pushed the door open. Draco's clothes were strewn haphazardly across the floor, like he'd stripped them off as he made a beeline for the shower without pausing anywhere along the way. The mental image of Draco's wet and naked body made Harry's cheeks burn, and he quickly shook it away.

"What do you want, Potter?" Draco said, his voice a bit muffled. It was a question Harry suddenly had a hundred answers to, but all of them seemed to hang apprehensively on the tip of his tongue. Draco didn't seem surprised that he was there, Harry noticed. Maybe that was why the door had been unlocked. Maybe Draco wanted him there.

"Are you okay?" Harry blurted, which wasn't one of the many replies he'd been waffling over. He frowned at himself.

"…I'm fine," Draco replied after a beat. "A little sore, I guess." Harry saw his silhouette shift behind the shower curtain, and then he grunted. "Or a lot sore, rather."

"Malfoy…" Harry leaned back against the wall as a wave of guilt washed over him. "Thank you," he said abruptly. "I should have said it ages ago, but we really – you've been a huge help with the Horcruxes. I don't know how we even would have gotten the cup without you, and it's because of you we could kill Nagini–"

"Weasley did that," Draco interrupted. "Seriously, I'm not sure I would've made it out of there without him. He's the one you should thank."

"And I will," Harry said impatiently. "But you're the one who got us in there and close enough to Voldemort in the first place."

"Snape could have done it. I ran into him, by the way. Before he showed up with my aunt, I mean."

"Jesus, Malfoy, just take the compliment, would you?" Harry said, somewhat exasperated. "And the gratitude, you git."

Draco huffed, whipping back the curtain partway so he could glare at Harry. "I don't want your bloody gratitude, Potter. Is that all you came in here to say?"

"No…" Harry mumbled, quickly distracted by the pale skin of Draco's neck and the way the water ran in streaming rivulets over it. His eyes trailed down, following the line of Draco's body until it disappeared behind the shower curtain.

Heat bloomed in Harry's stomach and he swallowed hard, fighting back a sudden urge to rip the rest of the curtain out of the way and jump right into the shower with him.

Oh, for the love of–

He wanted Draco Malfoy. Draco bloody Malfoy. How the hell had that happened?

Not that Harry was altogether surprised. Not at this point in the game. The prat had gotten under his skin – he'd always been under his skin, actually, since the moment Harry had met him. He was just less annoying now. Or maybe it was just that Harry had finally taken the time to get to know him, to learn what was behind the haughty façade. He'd discovered more about Draco Malfoy in the past six months than he had in the six years they'd been in school together.

Draco was smarter than Harry had ever given him credit for. He had a sharp wit and while he was still snarky as hell, Harry now found that he was surprisingly amusing, too. He was prickly, he got riled up easily, and he and Harry would probably never see eye-to-eye on a lot of different things, but maybe that was actually part of the reason Harry liked being around him. It kept things…interesting.

There was still the fact that he was a boy, but it confused Harry how little that bothered him now. Perhaps it just didn't matter. Draco was fit enough, if you liked your blokes pointy and pale. Which apparently, Harry did.

He had nice hair, at least…

Harry couldn't seem to get his thoughts under control. It was like a switch had been flipped somewhere inside of him, now that he'd…what? Admitted it to himself? Accepted it?

He was still staring.

And Draco was starting to sound exasperated.

…Wait.

"Potter!" Harry's head snapped up, his cheeks going bright red when he realized Draco had obviously called his name more than once. Draco mostly just looked amused, though, and also a little pleased, if Harry wasn't mistaken. "Whenever you're done staring," Draco said, and Harry didn't even try to deny that he had been.

Instead, he rolled his eyes. "I'm done," he quipped.

"Good," Draco said, disappearing completely behind the curtain again. "Then bugger off so I can wank in peace."

Immediately, Harry's imagination went into overdrive, supplying him with a long stream of images and filling in the silence with sounds that Harry himself had caused Draco to make. His knees buckled and he was glad he was already leaning against the wall because the extra support was suddenly a necessity.

Merlin, he had it bad.

"You don't want any help?" he asked faintly.

"What?"

Harry cleared his throat. "Nothing. I was just – nothing. Never mind. I'll leave you alone." He turned and forced his feet to carry him to the door.

"Hey, Potter?" Draco said, poking his head through the shower curtain again.

Harry spun back around so quickly he nearly banged into the wall. "Yeah?" he asked, eagerly and just a touch breathlessly, as well, which just made Draco look all the more amused and fuck, how embarrassing could he get? This was Malfoy, there was no need to suddenly be completely pathetic around him.

"You're welcome, you tosser," Draco said, with a grin. "Now get out of here before you hurt yourself."

Harry did as told, and promptly ran into Ron – who had finally turned back to normal, thank goodness – in the hallway.

Ron blinked at him.

"Er – hi," Harry said, and then instantly wanted to smack his face his into a wall.

"Er, hi," Ron shot right back at him, in a teasing tone. "I was just heading down to get something to drink for me and Hermione." He glanced over Harry's shoulder and then raised an eyebrow. "Déjà vu," he said, grinning a bit. "Showering together again, eh?"

Harry scowled. "No," he said, and then scuffed the toe of his shoe against the ground and looked sheepish. "Mostly because I'm an idiot," he admitted. He rubbed at the back of his neck, watching Ron carefully for signs of an impending explosion.

But Ron just clapped him on the shoulder in a good-natured sort of way. "I'd try to help you out, mate, but I don't even know how I managed to get my own love life sorted." Harry's face flamed up again at the term love life, and he shoved his hands deep into his pockets to keep from fidgeting. Ron continued, "Also, I don't have a clue how to deal with blokes. Reckon I'd just botch things up even more."

"So," Harry hedged. "You know, then."

Ron barked out a laugh. "Well, yeah. You're both kind of obvious. Especially that one." He jerked a thumb in the direction of the bathroom. "Pining for you all over the place like he does."

Harry frowned. "He hasn't been pining."

"You say that because you've been stubbornly looking the other way," Ron said. "Guess you didn't notice."

"…This is so pathetic," Harry grumbled. He slumped back against the wall. "I don't even know how I ended up here." Ron didn't say anything; he only shrugged. Harry chewed on his bottom lip for a moment. "I should have told you."

"Right you should have."

"I just – I didn't know–"

"I know."

Harry hesitated. "Did he…?"

"Yep."

"Everything?"

"Pretty sure." Ron smirked. "Unless you've done anything since–"

"No," Harry cut in hastily. "No, no. Nothing."

Ron nodded, before his brow furrowed slightly. "I'm not mad about Ginny, you know."

Harry blinked. "Really?"

"Nah. If you were meant to be, you'd have worked it out. At least you're not dragging her along," Ron said. "Besides…it was a bit weird. Knowing you two – and she's my sister." Ron blanched slightly. "I mean, not that I want to hear anything about you and Malfoy, either, mind you," he added quickly. "But given the choice…"

Harry chuckled. "Yeah, I get it." He frowned suddenly. "Did you really save him from Greyback?"

"Well, he might've come up with something on his own," Ron said, though he didn't look much like he believed it. "But yeah. Greyback and another Death Eater were fighting him at the same time." He leaned a shoulder against the wall beside Harry, crossing his arms. "I was glad for the opportunity, to be honest. Been wanting to get a piece of that arsehole ever since last year."

"I'm sure Bill will feel very avenged," Harry said, giving Ron a slight grin.

Ron rolled his eyes, but he looked pleased. "Yeah, yeah."

"Seriously, though," Harry said, sobering up and meeting Ron's gaze. "You did really good today."

"Ah – it was nothing," Ron said, but he looked proud of himself. Then he snorted. "Malfoy thought I was you," he said. "When I came charging in. I swear he was going to kiss me after."

"…He didn't, right?" Harry said, his eyes narrowing.

Ron laughed. "Merlin, no," he said. "But hell if I'm going to let him forget about it anytime soon. Anyway, I'm off. Hermione's waiting." He waggled his eyebrows, which frankly made him look a bit ridiculous. Harry just shook his head, thoroughly amused. "Now that I'm not you anymore, she can actually show me just how happy she is I made it back alright. Cheers!" He ambled off down the hallway to the stairs, waving once at Harry over his shoulder.

Harry remained where he was for a moment, listening to the oddly soothing sound of the shower running.

He wondered what the next step was from here.

xXxXx

Christmas passed uneventfully for the most part. They didn't have a lot of privacy in the few days leading up to it, though, which meant that they didn't have much of a chance to discuss what had happened in Little Hangleton. Instead, they were put to work by Mrs. Weasley, who was more than thrilled to see them venturing out into the rest of the house after spending the last month locked away behind closed doors. She had them decorating Grimmauld Place for the holiday, which Harry was happy to do because it was the sort of mindless activity that allowed him to mull over other things in his head at the same time.

He was sort of guiltily relieved to have this bit of a break, actually. It wouldn't last long, he knew, and they couldn't be sure Voldemort would lie low just because it was Christmastime, but Harry was pretty sure he knew what Voldemort's next course of action was going to be anyway.

"He has a map of Hogwarts," he confided to Hermione in a low voice, as they strung garland around the ceiling of the dining room. It was one of the few moments he'd managed to grab alone with someone who knew what was going on. "Or he has Wormtail working on one, at least."

Hermione frowned a little. "Like the Marauder's Map, you mean?"

Harry nodded. "I think that's what it's supposed to be. But I doubt Wormtail can make it on his own – he had my dad, Sirius, and Remus last time."

"He's planning on infiltrating Hogwarts, then," Hermione said. "Why? He already has the Ministry."

"Well…Hogwarts is the only place he ever considered home," Harry said slowly. "And we just destroyed one of his bases of operation – according to Malfoy, the other is the manor. But neither of those are his."

"Hogwarts is where the majority of our magical learning happens, though," Hermione said. "If he takes that, then where does he expect his future followers to get an education?"

"Oh, I'm sure he'd welcome all Purebloods with open arms."

"And likely teach them himself." Hermione sounded disgusted. "I suppose he believes that way he can also control who gets in." She was quiet for a moment as she flicked her wand, directing several wreaths to hang themselves on one of the walls. "You haven't told the others yet?"

"No…" Harry poked absently at a red ribbon, trying to get it to twist into a bow. "I'm going to let Neville know. And–"

"Professor McGonagall."

"Yeah, definitely."

"And the Order."

"…I guess – we don't know when he's going to make a move, though. I don't want to get everyone all worked up too far in advance, especially not when they have the Ministry to worry about." Harry sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "And there's no sense having a giant battle when Voldemort can't even be defeated yet."

Hermione hummed noncommittally. "At least tell Neville about all of the secret passageways, then."

"I was actually thinking of sending him the map," Harry admitted. "I just – don't really want to part with it."

"He'd take care of it."

"I know."

"Harry…you don't think he'll do anything over the break, do you?" Hermione asked uncertainly. "It seems like the most ideal time. There won't be many people in the castle right now."

"I don't think so," Harry replied. "The map wasn't anywhere near finished. And – well. He might have other…priorities, at the moment."

Hermione shot him a quick, worried look, but she didn't say anything. Harry knew she understood what he meant. Draco and Ron had briefly told them about Voldemort implying he would be able to make more Horcruxes, but frankly that was one chilling thought that Harry just did not want to think about. He wondered if he'd be able to feel it if Voldemort went through with it, since he seemed to be able to feel every other bloody thing he did.

Dumbledore had told him that it was extremely difficult to make a Horcrux, though. Maybe, hopefully, Voldemort would be too weak to properly manage it. How many pieces could a soul be torn into, anyway?

The front door opened and a myriad of voices talking at the same time interrupted their sudden silence. Ron came bounding into the room, his cheeks red from the cold wind despite the fact that he was bundled up in a coat, scarf, and mittens.

"Hey all," he greeted, swooping down to kiss Hermione on the cheek. "We got a tree. Didn't have any problems, either. Where's Malfoy?"

"Your mum roped him into cookie baking," Harry said. "His own fault, mind, for refusing to help with the decorations."

Ron snorted. "She feels bad for him, I think," he said, as he unwound the scarf from around his neck. "Since he's separated from his family and all that for Christmas. Reckon he's the new lost boy around here." He grinned. "Sorry, mate, you've been replaced."

"Good," Harry said. "Six years of your mum stuffing me to the brim with food because I'm too skinny was more than enough, thanks."

"Didn't see you complaining at the time," Ron said, sounding amused.

Harry smirked. "Well of course not, your mum's a brilliant cook."

Ron barked out a laugh, and then let it trail off. "And Ginny?" he asked, after a moment. Harry shrugged, suddenly focused on tying another ribbon into a shoddy looking bow.

"Still avoiding all of us," Hermione answered for him. "I'm going to try to talk to her tonight."

Harry let out a loud sigh. "I'm sorry," he said miserably. "I didn't mean for her to get hurt in all this – that's why I broke up with her in the first place. I didn't want her to have to get involved. I thought it'd be safer this way."

"Not all girls like to be protected," Hermione said softly. "I know you meant well, but Ginny would have been fine."

"…I know," Harry said. "I know. But. I didn't want – having her around would have been a distraction, and I didn't think I could afford that."

"He said, as he concentrates instead on the most dangerous task of hanging Christmas holly," Ron commented dryly, and Harry glowered at him.

"How was I supposed to know we'd end up sharing a house with your parents?" he groused.

"Not to mention," Hermione started to say, with a shrewd little smile, "that you've been quite preoccupied with Draco, as well."

Harry flushed. "That is a recent thing, thank you," he said in a clipped tone.

Ron and Hermione gave each other knowing looks. "It's not all that recent," she said.

"Have you worked it out with him yet?" Ron asked. "Not that I want details. But, you know, he seemed in a better mood. After the shower thing."

"There wasn't a shower thing!" Harry exclaimed, his cheeks turning an even darker red. "That was just – talking, for Merlin's sake."

Ron rolled his eyes and leaned in close to Hermione. "He's such a liar; I've caught him coming out of the bathroom with Malfoy twice now."

Hermione giggled, and Harry fumbled with his wand as he gave Ron an exasperated look. "Just.Talking," he bit out, waving his wand jerkily to hang another wreath next to Hermione's. The wreath shot up from its place on the table and zipped across the room so quickly that Ron had to duck to avoid being smacked in the face by it, which just made Hermione laugh even harder.

"Well, when are you going to come clean with him, Harry?" she asked, after she recovered.

"Seriously, mate, you have to make a move at some point."

Harry huffed, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring up the ceiling. "I will, alright? I'm just – trying to figure out how."

"It's not all that complicated," Ron said.

"Oh, like you would know," Harry grumbled. "You don't even know how you and Hermione got together."

"Oh really," Hermione said, propping her hands on her hips and raising her eyebrows at Ron, who suddenly looked very sheepish.

Lucky for Ron, however, his dad entered the room before he had to offer up any sort of bumbling explanation.

"You lot sound like you're having too much fun in here," Mr. Weasley said cheerfully, as he peeled off his gloves.

"Yeah!" Ron said loudly, sidestepping around Hermione, who by this point looked more amused than anything. "Just getting into the – holiday spirit! And all. You know how it is."

Mr. Weasley clapped him on the shoulder. "Your brothers and I got the tree up in the sitting room," he said. "Come and have a look!"

They followed him to the other room, where Fred and George were busy unpacking boxes and boxes of yet more decorations. Harry thought he saw the patented Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes insignia on the side of some of the boxes, and he wondered if he should be worried.

"Oh, it's gorgeous!" Hermione said, clasping her hands in front of her. "And so – big."

"Of course," Fred said, as he straightened up and put his hands on his waist, looking up at the tree. "One crazy old dark lord isn't any reason to slack off during the holidays."

"Here, Fred, don't think we need this box," George said, lightly kicking the one in question toward his brother. "Not if it's only going to be family here."

"It's not all family," Fred said. "Malfoy's not family."

George snorted. "And I don't particularly want to snog him; do you?"

"Nah, I'm not really in the habit of kissing ferrets."

"What is it?" Ron asked, shooting the box a curious look.

"Mistletoe," George replied.

"Of a sort," said Fred. "One of our new products this year. It's selling like mad!"

"You've done something with mistletoe?" Ron asked. He took a wary step back. "No, definitely put that one away."

George smirked. "What's wrong, worried you'd get caught under it?"

"Worried what you did to it, more like," Ron shot back. "And I don't need mistletoe to snog my girlfriend." He pointedly wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist.

"Oh ho!" Fred said, grinning brightly and propping an arm on George's shoulder so he could lean against him. "Look at you! He's growing up right before our eyes, Georgie."

"Reckon he'll be a man in no time," George said. He raised his eyebrows in an unmistakably suggestive way, and Ron scowled at him.

"If you're going to take bets on when that will happen, then you've already lost," Draco said, as he walked into the room carrying a plate of cookies.

Ron's eyes went wide and he made a panicked shushing sound, accompanied by a quick slicing gesture of his hand. Hermione squeaked out, "Draco!" and went pink as she darted a look around the room.

Draco lifted a cookie to his mouth. "What?" he asked innocently, as Fred and George caught on and suddenly howled with laughter. Draco held out for a moment longer, but then his face broke into an amused smirk. "Don't worry," he said to Ron, who had his face buried in his hands. "Your dad's in the kitchen."

"That's not what I was worried about," Ron grumbled. Fred and George swarmed him, Fred unceremoniously sliding between him and Hermione so he could throw an arm around Ron's shoulder.

"Ron!" he cried. "You should have told us!"

"We would have gotten you a different Christmas present!" George said.

"Something you could have put to better use," Fred added.

"We have a new line of handcuffs out–"

"They're easily disguised as bracelets, in case anyone asks."

"You know, like mum for example."

Harry snickered at the look on Ron's face. Hermione just pressed her hands to her cheeks and muttered, "Oh my God."

Draco offered them the plate. "Cookie?"

Hermione merely glared at him, but Harry took one. "These are the ones you made?"

"Yes," Draco said. "And they're delicious." He gave Harry a look, as though daring him to say otherwise.

Harry rolled his eyes and didn't comment as he bit into the cookie, but as he looked around the room – at Fred and George still teasing Ron, at Hermione as she huffed and apparently decided to just ignore everyone and start decorating the tree, then to Draco who seemed far too pleased with himself – Harry thought it tasted perfect.

xXxXx

When Christmas morning dawned, Harry found himself wedged between Fred and George on the sofa, watching with poorly concealed amusement as Draco bewilderedly unwrapped a lumpy looking package that could only be a Weasley sweater.

"I think the world went topsy-turvy when we weren't looking," Fred said to George over Harry's head.

George nodded. "Never thought I'd see Malfoy in one of those."

"No offense," Fred added quickly, which Harry took to mean that someone had told them about whatever the hell it was that was going on between him and Draco. He glowered briefly in Ron's direction, and then sighed.

"None taken," he said. "I never thought I'd see it either."

Draco was staring down at the knitted garment in his hands, looking an odd mixture of touched and slightly horrified that he'd actually have to wear the thing. It was a deep navy blue, which Harry thought would suit him but also seemed like a weird color choice until Mrs. Weasley spoke up.

"I was going to make you one in green," she said. "For Slytherin, of course. But that's the color I've always made for Harry, and I didn't think you two would appreciate matching."

George elbowed Harry in the side, leaning down to whisper, "Oh, I don't think you two would mind all that much." And seriously, Harry was going to kill Ron. He supposed this was some sort of payback for Draco outing Ron and Hermione to the twins, but why did he have to get caught up in the middle of it? He scowled, crossing his arms over his chest, and Fred and George snickered.

"It's lovely," Draco said, smoothing the jumper out and showing off the silver-threaded capital D. "You really didn't have to make me one, but thank you."

"Oh, nonsense," Mrs. Weasley said, beaming at him. "It's Christmas, and you looked like you could use something warm to wear, anyway." She kept smiling at him until Draco caved and tugged the sweater on over his head, which promptly made his hair stick up everywhere.

"It is warm," Draco said, and when he looked up this time there was a small smile on his face. "Thanks again, Mrs. Weasley."

"That's a nice color on you, Draco," Hermione said, from where she was curled up in one of the large armchairs with Ron.

"Every color is nice on me, Hermione," Draco said loftily. Hermione just rolled her eyes in response.

Fred and George got up to hand out their own presents, and Ginny took the opportunity to slide onto the couch beside Harry.

"I need to talk to you," she said softly. Harry could only blink at her for a moment, because this was the first time she'd spoken to him since the incident a couple days ago.

"Now?" he asked, and then could have hexed himself as a pinched look came over Ginny's face. "I mean – now is fine, of course," he amended quickly. "What is it?"

Ginny took a steadying breath, looking away from Harry to watch what Fred and George were doing instead. "I wanted to apologize," she said.

"Oh…" Harry shifted uncomfortably. "No, Ginny, it's not your fault–"

"Just let me talk," Ginny said brusquely. "I know I might have seemed – silly. Like I was chasing after a schoolgirl's dream. But I think maybe it's finally sunk in that the dream is over and we're not going to get back together." Harry started to protest, but she held up a hand to stop him. "Am I wrong?"

"…No," Harry admitted awkwardly.

Ginny nodded once. "Then don't interrupt." She turned toward him, searching his face for a moment. "…I really did like you, Harry."

"I liked you, too," Harry said, but Ginny shook her head.

"Maybe you did. But you also broke up with me." She tucked some hair behind her ear, lowering her eyes. "I kept hoping it would only be temporary. I thought if I kept showing you I was interested – that I wanted to be with you…" She gave a humorless little laugh. "Maybe it was naïve, but I thought I just had to keep you from forgetting about me."

Unintentionally, Harry caught Draco's eye across the room. Draco was frowning at him, but he quickly looked away and started talking to George – who seemed somewhat startled to suddenly be sucked into a conversation with him – when he noticed Harry had caught him staring.

Harry blew upward at his fringe and rubbed the back of his neck. "I could never forget about you," he said, and when Ginny kept her gaze pinned to the couch cushion between them, Harry reached out to run his fingers lightly through her hair. "Look at you," he said. "You're beautiful. You're funny. You're smart and you're strong. Any bloke would be lucky to have you. I was lucky."

"Damn straight you were," Ginny said, a light smirk on her lips when she raised her head. Then she sighed. "I guess I'm just not sure where we went wrong. I don't understand what happened."

"It's…" Harry chewed on his bottom lip for a moment. "You were something of a fantasy to me, I think," he finally settled on saying. "Everything I thought I needed. I had a great time with you," he said hastily, lest Ginny thought otherwise. "Never doubt that. When I said we should break up this year, I was expecting it to be a temporary thing. I imagined us growing old together, you know. Having kids and a house – all of it. And I think that was the problem. I got a bit blinded by all my dreams."

Harry let his eyes roam around the room, his gaze lingering briefly on the Christmas tree and its twinkling lights before bouncing to each different family member, soaking up the warmth and comfort they always managed to exude when they were together, even in the middle of a war. "This is what I've always wanted," he said softly. "What I never had growing up. I think, somehow, that I thought I could have it permanently if I was with you."

Ginny was silent for awhile, watching him, and then she huffed. "You're such a daft git, Harry Potter," she said. Harry gaped at her, but she plowed on, "As if you would ever not be welcome in this family. You don't need me for that."

"Well – maybe not," Harry said, his eyes wide and startled at her reaction. "But it's what I thought I wanted."

"But you thought wrong."

"I – I suppose so."

"You don't want me," Ginny said, and it wasn't a question.

Harry shook his head anyway. "Not as such," he said hesitantly. "You're more like a sister to me – you're like Hermione, actually." He blinked, surprised at the truth of the statement. "…At least, that's how I feel now. I'm not really sure when it changed."

"You should have just said."

"I didn't know!" Harry exclaimed. He shot a quick look around the room, but luckily no one seemed to be paying any attention to his outburst. Except maybe for Draco, who was still watching them out of the corner of his eye like he really thought Harry wasn't going to notice. "Like I said, I liked being with you. But it was almost – I don't know." He let out a frustrated breath. "There was a part of me that always kept you at arm's length, I think. It's like I was afraid to get too close. And everything with Voldemort…I just didn't want you involved. I broke it off with you the second that had to become my main focus, but really – I think it was just an excuse." Harry paused. "…I was a horrid boyfriend, wasn't I?" he said sheepishly.

Ginny held her finger and thumb very close together. "Just a smidge," she said, but she was smiling. It wasn't her usual smile; there was something sad behind it. But it was still a smile, and that was promising.

"I've only just sort of clued in on a lot of this," Harry said, relaxing back against the couch cushions. It was actually a relief to get this off his chest. "I realized that maybe what I need isn't something typical. Maybe it's just – completely different. And totally unexpected." His eyes drifted toward Draco again, and this time Ginny turned to see what he was looking at.

"…Yes, I sort of knew that was coming," she said slowly, and Harry's heart skipped a beat as he snapped his head back around to look at her. "I could tell there was something going on with you two, even as early as the summer. This might sound awful, but it felt like he was moving in on my territory." She gave a bitter laugh. "Which possibly is why I got a bit desperate. It's definitely why I was so short with him the other day. It's like he's taken my place – but then I guess it was a place I never really had to begin with." Ginny laughed again, but Harry noticed with some alarm that her voice was starting to sound thick in that way it did when girls were close to tears. "I'm jealous," she admitted. "Of him."

"Did someone say something to you?" Harry asked, his voice going a bit high-pitched and nervous.

"Hermione warned me when she talked to me yesterday," Ginny said. "But I wasn't all that surprised."

"Oh." Harry rubbed his neck again. "I really am sorry," he said. "This turned into such a mess. I should have been clearer with you in the beginning."

"You were very clear," Ginny said. "I just didn't want to let you go. I'm stubborn like that." She pulled her feet up onto the couch suddenly, and then lifted Harry's arm out of the way so she could tuck herself against his side. Harry hesitated only for a second before resting his arm back down around her shoulder and holding her close. "I'm sorry, too," she whispered. "For not listening." She waited a beat, and then added wryly, "And for apparently turning you queer."

Harry nearly choked on his own spit. "You didn't–!" Then Ginny's smirk caught up to him and he scowled. "Cheeky bint," he murmured, pinching her arm.

Ginny laughed again, and for the first time it actually sounded genuine. "That's going to be my claim to fame, Potter, so you'd best get used to hearing it."

"Wonderful," Harry grumbled, but he was grinning, too.

It faded when he looked back across the room, however, because Draco had disappeared.

xXxXx

Remus and Tonks turned up again on New Year's Eve, and they brought with them the surprising news that Tonks was pregnant. Harry grinned and congratulated them with everyone else, but somewhere in the back of his head he couldn't help thinking it was slightly unfair that all these other people could get so much shagging in when he couldn't even manage to get Draco to bloody talk to him.

He'd been avoiding Harry since Christmas, and Harry had bypassed being sympathetic toward him at all in favor of thinking he was being a ridiculous prat. Harry could guess why he was mad, after all. He knew what it must have looked like when he and Ginny were sitting together on the couch. But every time Draco stormed out of the room as soon as Harry entered, he could feel his patience growing thinner.

"He's really getting on my last nerve," he said to Ron, as the girls gathered around Tonks to pester her with questions. They were standing in the entranceway to the sitting room, purposely blocking the way out as Harry watched Draco talk to George – again – over by the Christmas tree. Something hot and angry welled up in his chest, an unfortunately familiar feeling that he thought had gone away after last year. Since when was George this friendly with Draco, anyway?

Ron noticed him scowling and raised an eyebrow. "What is it that's got his wand in a knot?"

"Oh, I'm sure he's mad I had the gall to touch Ginny the other day," Harry said, rolling his eyes so hard it almost hurt. "God forbid we stay friends. And of course, being the tosser that he is, he won't even let me attempt to explain."

"Well, you knew that going in," Ron said. "That he was a tosser." He looked amused at the entire situation, which Harry very much didn't appreciate.

"I must be out of my mind," Harry muttered. "We're already having stupid fights and we're not even together."

"You've always had stupid fights, mate. That's what you do."

"Yeah, but normally I don't care!" Harry exclaimed. "This is – he won't even look at me, for God's sake."

"So he's a bit high maintenance," Ron said, and Harry immediately scoffed.

"A bit? Understatement of the century, that is."

Ron shrugged. "You'll work it out. If not tonight, then when Ginny goes back to Hogwarts. He might finally get off his high horse at that point."

"Not bloody likely," Harry said, and then he frowned. "Wait, tonight?"

Ron gave him a faintly exasperated look. "Well, yeah. New Year's Eve, you know? I'm planning on snogging the hell out of Hermione at midnight."

Harry's eyes went wide. "Oh," he said. "Oh. Right! Merlin, I nearly forgot."

"I have no idea what you would do without me," Ron said, grinning.

"Yeah, that makes two of us," Harry returned.

Ron laughed, before a slightly worried look washed over his face. "…Hermione looks a little too excited over there," he said. "Let me go grab her before she starts getting ideas."

He left Harry standing alone, but Remus joined him not long after.

"Happy New Year, Harry," he said, smiling and looking more content than Harry had seen him in a long time. "Did you have a good Christmas?"

"It wasn't bad," Harry replied, which wasn't entirely true, but he didn't really feel like having to explain the entire Draco situation. To be honest, he wasn't sure how well it would go over. "How was yours? You were with – Tonks' mum, right?"

Remus nodded. "Andromeda," he said, with a glance in Draco's direction. "His mother's sister."

"Did they take the news well?" Harry asked.

"As well as could be expected," Remus said, suddenly looking a bit sheepish. "Given that we're – not married. Andromeda may not be your typical Pureblood, but there are still some beliefs she firmly stands by. And her husband, Ted – well. Tonks is his only daughter, so you can imagine…"

Harry chuckled, not needing any further explanation than that. He could easily picture what Mr. Weasley would do when Ginny turned up pregnant one day. The thought made him pale a bit, and he was suddenly very glad he and Ginny had never made it that far.

"Well, congratulations again," Harry said. "It's brilliant, really. When is she due?"

"Around Easter," Remus said. "Which means she's to stay put until then, which she's not happy about."

"Yes, I've noticed they don't like being told what to do," Harry said dryly, gesturing in Tonks' direction. She was sitting with Ginny and Mrs. Weasley, while Hermione still hovered nearby despite Ron's attempts to drag her away.

"It's a lesson all men must learn the hard way, I fear," Remus said. "Nonetheless, as long as it's my son she's carrying she'll stay well out of harm's way. Or, at the very least," he amended, his tone shifting towards exasperation, "she won't go seek it out. No Order business until the spring."

"…Your son," Harry repeated, his eyes widening a bit. "It's a boy, then?"

A warm smile spread across Remus' face. "It is," he said. "And actually, we were wondering if – if you would be his godfather, Harry."

Harry's jaw dropped. "Really," he said with a laugh. "You're serious? You want me to be the baby's godfather?"

"We'd be honored," Remus said.

"I'd be honored," Harry exclaimed. "Remus – yes, of course! Absolutely, I'd love to!"

Remus reached out and gave Harry's shoulder a squeeze. "Wonderful," he said, and then playfully added, "Talk to me again in a few months and we'll discuss you being my best man."

"Another wedding?" Harry asked, grinning.

"Eventually," Remus said. "Probably after all this is over."

Harry shook his head. "I can't believe you're going to be a dad."

"Me neither. The last time I held a baby was when you were still in nappies."

"…Thanks for that," Harry said, flushing a dull red, and Remus chuckled.

"You were a handful," he said, and then paused. "…Quite a handful, actually. I'm not sure I want to think about that."

"Oh, go on, Remus," Harry said, amused now. "It's only a few months of screaming and wailing. Or ten years, if he's anything like my cousin."

Remus shuddered. "Heaven forbid." He stepped away from the door. "I think I'll take my leave now, before you plant any other worries in my head."

"That's what I'm here for," Harry quipped.

"Don't get too smart," Remus said, smirking a bit. "As his godfather, we're allowed to pawn him off onto you when we need a good night's sleep." Harry laughed, and Remus winked at him before going over to stand beside Tonks. He absently placed a hand on the small of her back, and Harry watched as she leaned into him without even seeming to realize it. It was the same sort of casual, unconscious touching that Ron and Hermione did constantly these days. Touches that spoke of trust and familiarity. Of comfort. Of – more.

It was the kind of touch Harry wanted to have with someone.

With sudden determination, Harry looked around until he found Draco standing off to the side of the room, and their eyes met briefly. Harry wasn't surprised Draco had been watching him – he was always watching him, Harry realized, and had probably been doing so for months. Watching and waiting for Harry to stop being so bloody thick.

Draco's eyes widened at the look on Harry's face and he immediately started searching for an escape route. And since Draco taking off would kind of ruin Harry's plans for the evening, he was very much unwilling to let that happen. He stepped further into the room, thinking maybe he could corner Draco, except that turned out to be a mistake because Harry was promptly waylaid by Hermione throwing herself at him, and now the doorway was wide open.

"Happy New Year!" Hermione said, her arms around Harry's neck as she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Harry was momentarily distracted as he automatically returned the hug. "Same to you," he said absently, glancing over her shoulder and trying to find a certain blonde head amongst all the ginger ones.

Hermione pulled back and frowned at him. "Is something wrong?"

"What? No – sorry – man on a mission, Hermione," Harry said, growing frustrated. "Bloody hell, where did he go?"

"Oh!" Hermione said, understanding dawning in her eyes. She gave him a shove back towards the door, and Harry turned around just in time to see Draco slip out. "Don't let me keep you, then. Go!"

Harry shot her a grin as he took off. "Brilliant – thanks, Hermione!" He made it out into the hallway as Draco was climbing up the stairs, and quickly started after him. "Malfoy!" he called. "Wait, hold on!"

Draco turned around at the top of the stairs and glared furiously down at Harry. "You don't have to explain anything to me," he spat. "I get it, alright?"

"No, you don't,' Harry said, pausing a few steps below him. "You don't get it at all. If you would just let me–"

"Look," Draco interrupted. "I really don't feel like dealing with you right now, Potter. You can bother me tomorrow, but right now just – turn around. Go back to your perfect little girlfriend and her stupid perfect family and a have a bunch of perfect bespectacled, ginger babies. I don't care." He spun around and stomped down the hall, leaving Harry to scramble after him.

"You've got it all wrong," he said, catching up so that he could grab Draco's arm. "Malfoy. Just stop for one bloody second!"

"What?" Draco snapped, yanking his arm from Harry's grip and facing him again. "Merlin, Potter, you're so – I don't want to talk to you, don't you get that? This is–" He cut himself off, his face pink and his chest heaving as his breathing sped up. "I had thought–" And then he scowled and shook his head, before digging his hands back into his hair. "This is embarrassing," he finally ground out. "I keep doing this, I keep thinking you might – but you don't. And that's – fine. Whatever, I'll deal with it, but I just – I can't look at you right now without feeling…" He leaned back against the wall, letting one hand fall to his side while the other slid down over his face and rubbed at his eyes. "Like shit," he finished hoarsely.

Harry's hands twitched and he ached to reach out to Draco, but he crossed his arms tightly over his chest instead. "Are you done?" he asked, and Draco whipped his hand away from his face to give Harry a livid, incredulous look.

"Yes," he said shortly, and didn't seem to notice when Harry took a step closer. "So sorry, was I taking up too much of the Chosen One's time? For fuck's sake, Potter…" Draco shifted, and all of a sudden he just seemed to wilt as he dragged his palm over his face again. "What do you want?"

This time, Harry had his answer ready. "You," he said. Draco's eyes shot up to meet his, wide and confused, and Harry closed the distance between them until they were standing chest-to-chest. "You stupid, daft, stubborn, impossible Slytherin."

Draco's hand lowered, hovering hesitantly over Harry's shoulder as the anger cleared slowly from his face. Something like hope sparked in his eyes, and Harry's stomach did a funny sort of flip. "…That's not an insult," Draco said, somewhat shakily, and Harry let out a relieved breath and gave him a faint grin.

"Says you," he replied, and then he moved forward, hands reaching out to cup Draco's face as he drew him close and kissed him square on the mouth.

Draco's mouth opened beneath Harry's in a gasp, his hand coming down to clutch at the front of Harry's shirt. There was the briefest moment of uncertainty on his end, a single second that seemed to stretch into hours while Harry's heart pounded in his chest as he waited for Draco to respond, to kiss him back, to do something.

And then Draco made a desperate sound in the back of his throat and surged up against Harry, using his grip on his shirt to pull him closer at the same time. He tilted his head to the side a bit, kissing Harry for all he was worth, and brilliant warmth shot through Harry. It filled him up and consumed him whole as he finally let every last doubt and worry fall away so he could just focus on Draco. On his scent and on the feel of his hair as it slid between Harry's fingers. On this kiss. On getting even closer to him.

"…I'm confused," Draco panted, his breath ghosting over Harry's lips as he pulled back just slightly. "I thought you and the Weaselette–"

"You thought wrong," Harry interrupted, and he couldn't even be bothered to tell Draco not to call her that as he dove in for another kiss.

Draco returned it for a moment, and then pulled back again. "It looked like you were getting back together."

"…No," Harry said, sighing and resting his forehead against Draco's. "That was us finalizing the break-up." When Draco remained quiet, Harry cracked an eye open to peer at him, only to find him looking completely skeptical.

"That was you breaking up," he repeated. "Really?"

"Yeah," Harry said, frowning slightly. "Why?"

"You were cuddling!" Draco said, as though this should have been obvious. "You were sitting on the couch together and you had an arm around her and you were cuddling. That was a break-up?"

Harry cleared his throat awkwardly and went a bit shifty-eyed. "Er…yeah."

Draco stared at him. "…You lot are so backwards," he said. "You're mad, every single one of you. I don't know how I put up with any of you."

"You put up with us by snogging me," Harry said, which didn't really make any sense but he was well past caring. He leaned forward again and Draco met him eagerly, his eyes sliding shut–

Except they popped right back open almost immediately as he pulled back again, and Harry had to bite back a groan. "You are snogging me, aren't you?" Draco said. He sounded like he had just realized this.

Harry snorted. "Well spotted," he said. "I can do it again, in case you were uncertain."

"Oh, shut up," Draco said. "Don't go getting cocky." He met Harry's eyes. "You've just broken up with your girlfriend for good. And you're kissing me."

"…That about sums it up," Harry said with a grin. "I've been wanting to for days, but you've been acting like an absolute prat."

Draco's cheeks went pink, but he did his best to pretend they hadn't and just turned up his nose. "You might have tried a little harder."

Harry could only laugh in response. He lowered his hands from Draco's face and wrapped his arms around his waist instead. "I suppose I could have," he said, as Draco circled his own arms around Harry's neck. "You put up with my idiocy for long enough."

"It's true, I did," Draco said, tugging Harry closer. "I deserve an award, frankly. An Order of Merlin. First class, I think." He didn't give Harry a chance to reply, which Harry was perfectly fine with. Kissing was really much better than talking, anyway.

A loud cheer suddenly came up through the floor below them. Harry and Draco broke apart again, both of them breathing heavily.

"Midnight," Draco murmured. "Should we – I guess you want to go back downstairs and celebrate?"

"No," Harry breathed. "I'm good. What I want…" He slid his palm over Draco's hip, and then let his fingers slip beneath the bottom of Draco's sweater. "Is for this to come off."

Draco gave him a slow smirk. "And suddenly you're all impatient. I don't really think you have the right to be, Potter. And besides, I like my Weasley jumper. Maybe I don't want to take it off."

Harry blinked at him, and then leaned back to get a better look at what he was wearing. "…I honestly didn't think you'd ever put that on again," he said, laughing and wondering how he'd missed the large D on Draco's chest.

Draco lifted his chin. "It's comfortable," he said defensively. "I might just keep it on forever, in fact."

"Hey, none of that now," Harry said. He stepped in close again, pressing his fingers against Draco's skin just above the waistband of his trousers. "It's not as though I haven't seen you without a shirt on before."

"Oh, I'm hardly worried about that," Draco said, rolling his eyes. "I just don't see why I should make this easy for you." Another loud cheer rose up from beneath them, and Draco glanced back toward the stairs. "…We're still out in the hallway," he murmured. "Come on."

He pulled Harry down the hall to his bedroom, keeping a loose grip on his wrist the whole time. Harry briefly wondered what it would be like to actually hold hands with another boy, but Draco was pushing him into the room and shutting the door firmly behind them before he had a chance to find out.

"You don't think anyone's going to come looking for you?" Draco asked, unceremoniously pulling his sweater over his head and dumping it on a nearby chair. Harry's eyes went a little wide, but it turned out Draco was wearing another t-shirt underneath. He snorted at the look on Harry's face. "Don't get excited, Potter. Those just really are very warm."

"You're going to be a horrid tease about all this, aren't you?" Harry asked, just a touch exasperated.

Draco grinned. "For tonight, at least."

Harry rolled his eyes skyward. "Would it help if I got on my knees and begged for your forgiveness?"

"…Well, I don't know about the begging part," Draco said after a beat. "But I like the idea of you being on your knees."

Harry opened his mouth to reply, but then the implication of what Draco was saying caught up to him and his cheeks flushed a deep red.

Draco laughed. "Oh, for – breathe, Potter, I'm only kidding. Merlin, your face."

"Shut up," Harry grumbled, curling a hand around one of the posts of Draco's bed and resting against it. "It's just – that's a bit beyond me. At the moment. For now."

Draco moved closer, letting his hands press against Harry's abdomen as he leaned into him. "We can work up to it," he said, giving Harry a quick kiss. "It's not your fault you don't know what the hell you're doing."

"I'm sorry, and where's the line of blokes you've been going down on?" Harry asked dryly, lifting an eyebrow.

"Well!" Draco said, ignoring the question. "This will be fun. Lots of awkward, clueless shagging. Be still my heart."

"Honestly, all I got out of that was lots of shagging," Harry said, grinning. He stepped forward until Draco was forced to sit down on the bed. "And that I'm perfectly okay with."

"I always knew you were a pervert, Potter," Draco said, as Harry planted one knee on the bed alongside Draco's hip.

Harry attempted a leer, but the look Draco gave him told him he'd failed miserably and he ruined it further by laughing. "The others won't be looking for us, you know," he said, belatedly answering Draco's question from earlier. "Hermione saw us leave."

Draco blinked. "So?" He leaned back on his hands, looking up at Harry, and then his eyes went wide. "Wait, does she know?"

"…Of course she knows," Harry said. "She's Hermione." He gave Draco a look. "Besides, you told Ron."

"I can't be blamed for that," Draco said quickly. "I was drunk. The words your hand down my pants just came spewing out before I could stop them, I swear!"

"Regardless," Harry said, resolving to pretend he hadn't just heard that. "You told Ron, he told Hermione, Hermione told Ginny – oh, and Ron also told the twins. So yeah. They all know." The corner of his mouth quirked upward. "Thanks."

"I'll consider that my good deed of the year, then," Draco said. "Now you don't have to suffer through the painfully embarrassing act of telling them yourself."

"…The year only just started about five minutes ago, Malfoy."

"Well, mother always taught me not to procrastinate."

"And I still have to suffer through them taking the mickey out of me."

"Oh, Potter," Draco said, tugging on the front of Harry's shirt. "They would have found a reason to do that without my help."

Fair enough, Harry thought, as he pushed Draco down onto the bed and quickly found his mouth again. Draco arched up against him with a soft groan, and then he squirmed around until he was able to scoot farther up the bed to lie against the pillows. Harry moved with him, unwilling to stop kissing him even as he clumsily kicked off his trainers. He braced himself on his forearm, his other hand palming Draco's hip, and when Draco's lips parted to let him in everything instantly became a thousand times better and more heated and intense and Harry never, ever wanted these feelings to end.

If any of the others were going to tease him because he'd snuck away for this…

He let his hand slide around to the small of Draco's back, grinning against his mouth when Draco made a very content sound.

…Well, it was fucking worth it.

So hey! Turns out there was no delay after all, haha. You get this chapter EARLY. But only because you guys are awesome.

And don't worry, that wasn't a fade-to-black sex scene or anything. You're not going to miss them shagging! ;D

ANYWAY, I'm off to Florida tomorrow! See you guys in two weeks!

-Maxine