It was a few days later when Harry pointed out that they should probably think about returning to their normal lives. Draco had found himself not entirely enthralled with the thought. Their brief time at Hogwarts had been pleasant - defying all his expectations - and he had grown to like it.

He had also grown to like Harry. That had definitely defied all his expectations.

At the very least, he certainly liked sleeping next to Harry. And snogging him. And waking up with him. And snogging him again.

Draco smiled to himself. At least, Harry would still be around, even if Hogwarts wasn't. Silver lining and all that…

He sauntered down the corridors, making his way to McGonagall's office. Harry had asked to meet him there so they could Floo back to his apartment. Draco of course, could have gone back to the Manor directly but he found himself wanting to spend some time with Harry before parting ways. They certainly wouldn't be sleeping in the same bed once he was back home. Or snogging whenever they liked. The thought made him pout.

His mental musings were interrupted by Slughorn who accosted him in the hallway. "Ah Mr Malfoy, just the man I've been looking for."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Professor Slughorn," he greeted amicably.

"Oh now. None of that, dear boy. It's Horace," Slughorn clucked. "You're hardly a student, after all."

Draco fought the urge to roll his eyes. "You were looking for me?" he reminded the dithering professor.

"Ah yes, of course. Glad I caught you right before you took off. I'm actually in the process of considering your application - impressive NEWT scores by the way, best I've ever seen. Anyway, you'll have to submit an original paper on a subject of your choice. Bothersome business I know, but it's required for your application. Of course, I'll be mailing you the acceptance as soon as you're finished and you can start right away, but…"

Draco blinked rapidly, getting more confused by the second. "I'm sorry, I don't think I follow. My… application, did you say?"

"For the Research Assistant Program, of course." Slughorn replied. "Your fiancé dropped it off last night. Charming lad, Harry is. I've known him for years. Have I congratulated you yet? Well of course, you have my fondest…"

"Harry put in an application for me?" Draco blurted. How had Harry even known that…

"Well, it certainly wasn't for him," Slughorn chuckled. "Marvellous boy but no talent for Potions. Pity. But he was most insistent that I consider you for the Program. Couldn't talk enough about your passion for the field. Now, about that paper, Mr Malfoy…"

Draco nodded blankly, completing tuning out the man's prattling. Harry had done this… for him. Hogwarts had one of the best research programs in the magical world. He hadn't even considered it, given his dismal luck with the internship. It was everything he could have hoped for and Harry had just given it to him. His chest fluttered almost painfully.

He mumbled a hasty goodbye to Slughorn, promising to send the paper in first thing next week. And then he took off, running full speed down the corridor to Harry.

They Flooed into Harry's flat, having bid McGonagall a brief but warm goodbye. The older witch had wished them her best and sent them on their way with a rare, fond hug. Harry stumbled and steadied himself while Draco landed on his feet, graceful as a cat. Grinning, he turned to the blond.

"Well it's not much but its home," he announced sheepishly. "Sorry about the mess. It's not like I have a house el - ack!"

Harry staggered and sprawled as Draco all but tackled him, wrapping his skinny arms around his neck and welding their lips together. Harry's eyes widened in surprise as he flailed, and mercifully landed on the sofa with Draco on top of him. So this is what Draco felt like when he accosted him for a snog. Frankly, Harry couldn't see why he complained so much. It was fucking brilliant.

"What's… all this… about?" he managed to ask, between frantic kisses. Not that he was complaining at all, mind you. Draco halted his onslaught for a second, breaking away to look at Harry with dark, silver eyes. "Consider it a thank you," he said, arching against Harry and making him hiss. "For talking to Slughorn."

Harry's eyes glinted with understanding. "Found out about that, did you?" he grinned, wrapping a proprietary arm around Draco's waist and pushing their groins together. Draco whimpered in response, making his blood flare. "If this is the response I get, I'll make sure every sodding Potions Master in England has your résumé handy by next Tuesday."

Draco smirked. "One is enough, Potter," he drawled. His eyes softened as he regarded the man under him, the man who had done so much for him in such a short while. "Thank you," he whispered. "You didn't have to. But it's brilliant and I know the only reason I got it is because of you but it's…"

"Hey," Harry broke in softly, carding a hand through Draco's soft hair. "You deserve to be in that program. You're passionate and intelligent and while I don't completely understand why, you're mad about Potions. I'm just glad I could help." Draco flushed and buried his head in Harry's chest, making him chuckle. He tipped the blond's head back and smiled at him, eyes glinting with hidden mischief. "Now about the rest of my reward…"

Draco wasn't sure he could pull it off on a narrow couch. And yet, Harry surprised him once again. Quick as you please, he tipped them over so that Draco was under him. Harry growled and snaked a hand between their legs, cupping Draco's bits and squeezing lightly. The blond gasped and arched into him magnificently. "Brute," he panted, biting his lip.

Harry nearly came undone. With a snarl, he descended, intending to lick and kiss and suck at every inch of pretty, pale skin laid out under him. Draco moaned and his hands wound their way into his hair, clenching at it as Harry paused to suckle at his throat.

"Harry," Draco whispered urgently. "Harry, please…"

"Fuck" Harry groaned, wrestling with his shirt. He finally got the damn thing off and chucked it carelessly, immediately latching on to Draco's throat again. It was brilliant. It was spectacular. And he was finally going to shag his gorgeous…

"Harry James Potter! You better have a damn good excuse for what I just read in… Merlin's pants!"

Several things happened simultaneously. Draco went rigid as a board under him and then shoved him off. Harry yelped and fell on his arse. Ginny Weasley cowered in the corner, covering her eyes.

"I didn't see anything!" she announced, still shielding her eyes. "Nothing at all! Harry, put your shirt back on."

"Salazar's silk knickers! Ginny, what the hell?!" Harry growled, tugging his shirt on. Draco was gawking unabashedly at the woman and Harry swallowed as his eyes narrowed dangerously. Oh, this would not be good.

"Harry," he hissed. "What the hell is going on?"

"Um…" Well this was awkward. "Draco, you've met Ginny Weasley. Gin, this is Draco. My…"

"I know who she is!" Draco snapped, glaring at Ginny. "Why is she in your apartment?"

That, Harry conceded was an excellent question. And it just so happened that he had several of his own. "How did you get in?" he asked Ginny.

"Your wards went up. I'm spelled in to them, remember?" she snapped at him, throwing Draco a dirty look. "I heard them adjust as soon as you got back."

"Why is she spelled in to your wards?!" Draco practically snarled, pushing angrily at Harry. His eyes roved the apartment, and he stopped and cocked his head at an ornate, heavy lion statuette that Harry had acquired… somewhere. He Vanished it at once in case Draco got any bright ideas. Then, he turned to face two people he was rather fond of and who looked like they wanted to slaughter him in equal measure.

"I want to talk to you in private," Ginny gritted, looking about a hairs' breadth from throwing Bat Bogeys around.

"Whatever you want to say to my fiancé, you can damn well say it in front of me!" Draco snapped. Apparently, he had a point to prove because he marched up to Harry, grabbed him by the collar and smashed their lips together. Ginny shrieked and Harry floundered and flailed, sputtering into the kiss before finally managing to pull his jealous fiancé off him. "Okay, she gets it," he whispered, nipping affectionately at Draco's bottom lip. "I'm all yours."

"I'll brand you if I have to," he retorted. Harry grinned. He was pretty sure Draco wasn't joking. In the corner, Ginny cleared her throat meaningfully. She was not going to take no for an answer. Harry sighed.

"Just give me a minute, okay?" he murmured to Draco. The blond scowled and Harry gave him a pleading look. Draco sighed and nodded reluctantly. He shot Ginny an evil glare and then yanked at Harry's collar again, pressing their lips together for another kiss.

"Oh for Merlin's sake!" Ginny cried out. Draco broke away from Harry, gave her a smirk and then sauntered over to the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

Harry faced his fuming friend, the tense silence thickening around them by the second. "So I've been reading the Prophet these past few days," Ginny announced in that saccharine, honeyed tone that always preceded great misfortune and pain. Harry cringed as her eyes narrowed. "Guess what I learnt? Apparently, that my best friend is not only seeing Draco Malfoy - prat extraordinaire - but is engaged to him and then skipped the bloody country!"

"I can explain?"

"Can you? Can you really?"

"Well…"

"Because I would love to hear it, Harry! Please do try to explain how you are not only engaged to that hellcat, but apparently you didn't see fit to tell me!"

"It's a long story," Harry mumbled. Ginny gave him the hands on her hips stance and glared him down. Harry cringed. "I'm sorry. It just happened so fast and, I was going to tell you! I will tell you. Just give me a little time to get Draco calmed down again."

Ginny gave him a rather impressive glower, before deciding that he'd had enough. "Dinner then" she declared. "We'll fix a date. You and Malfoy; I want the whole story. Every last detail."

"I promise," Harry declared fervently.

"Oh, and Ron and Hermione will be there," she smirked. "That's what you get for keeping secrets from me. If you thought I was bad, you're going to love Ron's reaction."

Harry groaned, but he supposed he deserved it. Ginny smiled and ruffled his hair - a peace offering. "You're happy?" she asked.

Harry hesitated but gave her a nod. "I am," he said quietly.

"Well then," Ginny shrugged. "I guess that's that. But don't think this is over, Harry. We're going to talk about this." She smiled at him. "Just not now. I'll see myself out." She gave him a wink as she left. "By the way, he's probably raving with jealousy right about now. If I were you, I'd be in there."

Harry chuckled as she left. She disappeared into the fireplace and he immediately bolted for his room. Draco was in his arms faster than he could blink. "Mine," he snapped, wrapping his legs around Harry and angling for a kiss. Harry grinned and collapsed on the bed, with his armful of writhing blond. And as Draco attacked his lips and neck and collarbone with unparalleled fervour, he resolved to have Ginny over more often.

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