Year Seven

Harry pounded on the cupboard door, tears streaming down his face, breath coming quick and sharp. His face hurt where Vernon had slapped him, and he felt as if he could still feel the meaty hands around his throat. Dark bruises were already forming on Harry's arms where Vernon had grabbed him.

"Please! Please let me out! I'll be good! I shouldn't have mouthed off I'm sorry! I know it was stupid I'm so stupid please let me out!"

Harry could barely get his words out he was sobbing so much. Harry wasn't supposed to ever be in the cupboard again. It seemed as if it had gotten smaller over time. Harry could hear his aunt Petunia snap "Shut that freak up already!"

Harry's breath quickened. "Yes! Please let me out an I'll shut up! Please! I'll leave this place forever if you just let me out!"

As soon as the door opened and Harry could see Vernon's ugly face, he took a few steps back, and tripped on his old bed, falling back on it. Harry scooted away until his back hit the wall. Harry flinched away as Vernon leaned close enough for Harry to smell his breath.

"Shut the hell up! You should've died with your parents!" Harry tuned out as Vernon continued yelling at him, ears ringing. Harry stayed completely silent long after Vernon had left and re-locked the door.

It was long into the night before Harry pulled out his wand and unlocked the door. He didn't care that he wasn't allowed to use magic outside of school. Harry padded to his room and threw everything he owned into a bag. Harry didn't look back as he left the Dursleys behind.

III

Draco was woken up by violent banging on his front door. Draco's parents were away on holiday, so he dashed to the door and peeked out. Draco flung it open. "Harry!?"

Harry looked like he had been crying for hours, and held a suitcase and Hedwig. He was shivering violently and looked panicked. "I took the night bus. I-i'm sorry I didn't know where else to go. I didn't want Mrs. Weasley to worry about me and I don't know where Hermione lives so I just... I can leave." Harry was already turning away when Draco grabbed his hand.

"Harry. Stay"

Harry looked at him, then suddenly hugged him, hiding his face. "I couldn't take it Draco and I'm so afraid they'll find me"

"Who? Here come inside, I'll get get you something warm to drink and we can talk about this."

Harry allowed himself to be pulled inside Draco's home. The two sat on a couch in silence for a while, Harry sipping his tea every now and then with a haunted look on his face. Draco tried to rest a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder, but Harry flinched and looked away. "Harry? What happened?" Draco tried gently. He watched as Harry kept his eyes on his dirty shoes.

"I don't...I don't like small spaces." Was what Harry croaked out. Draco tilted his head.

"I'll be sure to find the biggest guest room for you then, Harry."

Harry shook his head and squeezed his cup. "After years I was put in the broom closet again. It was too small."

Alarm shot through Draco. Broom closet? Harry was put in a closet? He wanted to fuss over Harry but knew it would only make things worse, so he stayed silent.

Harry's voice was shaky. "I deserved it. I deserve everything my family has ever done to me, every single hit and bruise."

Draco's eyes widened. "Harry Potter don't you dare say that."

"He said I should have died. I should have died." Tears were starting to brim.

Draco fought the urge to hug Harry. "Who? Who said that, I swear I'll use a forbidden curse on them as soon as I see them-"

"Uncle. My uncle Vernon. He's always hated me. My aunt hates me because I killed my parents. I killed my parents Draco." Harry looked up at him then, tears falling sown his cheeks, and Draco couldn't stop himself anymore. He pulled Harry into a gentle hug.

"Do not say that, Harry. You didn't kill your parents, and you didn't deserve to die. You never deserved to be treated so horribly!" Draco was fighting to keep the venom out of his voice. He was going to kill whoever did this to Harry. "I for one am very glad you're here, and I know Ron and Hermione are too."

Harry was sobbing. "Stop, I should've died! Instead I'm alive and I'm a fucking tranny! I can't even be the girl my parents thought I was!"

"You are not a tranny. You may be transgender but that's just who you are. If anyone doesn't like that, well, they can bite my arse! You're Harry Potter, and you're a good friend. You're noble and honest and loyal and I know your parents would've been proud of that."

This time Harry said nothing, he was sobbing and shaking. and Draco held Harry close until Harry fell asleep, tears drying on his cheeks. Draco ran his long fingers through Harry's hair. He still wished he had been Harry's friend from the very beginning, but he was glad he could be with Harry now, when he needed Draco most. Draco sighed and laid back, pulling a blanket over Harry and keeping an arm around him.

Draco kissed Harry's head, and fell into a disturbed sleep.

III

Harry woke up to the smell of breakfast. That was unusual, most days Harry had to make breakfast for the Dursleys- And suddenly the night before popped into Harry's head. He immediately sat right up and looked around. Why had he come to Draco's house!? Uncle Vernon would be livid, Harry should have just stayed in the broom closet. Harry ached all over. He had been wearing his binder for far too long, and the mirror in his room showed that the bruises around Harry's neck were very visible indeed.

When had he been moved to a bedroom? Last thing he remembered he was in the living room with Draco, crying all over him. Had Draco carried him? Speak of the devil, Draco poked his head in, a plate in hand. "Ah, you're awake, good. I've made breakfast for you. You're far too light, you really need to eat more."

Draco looked completely serious, but the frilly apron he was wearing set Harry off. Maybe he was just loopy and tired from the night before, but Harry was laughing so hard his sides hurt. Or maybe that was from his binder. Draco huffed. "Don't laugh at me! I couldn't risk getting my clothes stained!"

Harry chuckled and wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "Oh Draco, you look so adorable, really." Harry noticed Draco turn slightly pink as he offered the plate of food.

"Just eat, you twat."

Harry gratefully took the food and dug in. Oh yes, his ribs were definitely aching, but Draco's food was mouth watering good. Harry moaned into each bite, which did nothing to ease Draco's blush. Despite that, Draco still looked smug. "I'm glad you enjoy my food. It was made from love, of course."

Harry couldn't be arsed to make an innuendo about that as he licked the plate clean. "You're the best Draco. You should cook for me every day!"

Draco rolled his eyes and took the plate. "Oh please, that would cost more than this house to hire me as a person chef! The shower's just down the hall by the way. You smell like B.O. I'll wash your clothes for you."

This gave Harry pause. "Oh you don't really need to-"

"Of course I do!" Draco cut in. "Just leave them on the toilet seat and I'll pick them up, alright?"

With that Draco was off to the kitchen. Harry sighed. There was really no point to arguing with Draco these days. Harry found the shower successfully and started it, then stripped down to his binder and boxers and examined his body. Lots of bruises. As usual. Harry turned away from the mirror as he peeled off his binder and boxers, then dumped all his clothes on the toilet lid and stepped into the shower. The warm water eased his aching bones, and lulled Harry into an almost trance. He didn't notice Draco take his clothes and leave, and he didn't even notice Draco replace them with a fresh set of clothes.

By the time Harry got out of the shower, a good hour later, he was completely relaxed. Harry toweled off his hair, humming to himself. Harry mindlessly put on his clothes, until he realized that there was no binder to put on. Uneasiness settled quickly on Harry, and he quickly put his shirt on, then crossed his arms over his chest. Harry peered out of the bathroom, then looked around the house, arms firmly crossed over his chest.

Harry finally found Draco lounging on a couch, reading the Prophet. "Er Draco? Where's my...you know."

Draco looked up. "Sense of style? Nowhere to be found, evidently."

"No! My...my binder." Harry didn't like bringing up or even talking about things relating to being trans. He thought it just served as a reminder to people that he didn't quite have all the manly equipment usually found in ones pants.

"Oh that. It should be dry by now. Have you ever washed that thing?"

Harry shook his head and Draco stood up. "Of course not. I'll get it for you, just wait here."

Harry watched Draco leave, noticing that Draco did have a keen sense of style. Even around the house he seemed to wear a nice shirt and pants. The pants seemed a bit small in the rear area though, Draco's arse seemed squeezed by the pants. Harry tugged at his shirt, trying to make it fall in such a way that made his chest look flat. Then Harry picked up the Daily Prophet out of curiosity. The headline was:

The Boy Who Lived, Missing?"

Harry started shaking and threw down the newspaper, running a hand through his still slightly wet hair. How could they find out so quickly? Was he in trouble? As soon as Draco reentered the room, he took one look at Harry, and then dumped the newspaper in the nearest waste bin.

"Load of bollocks isn't it? They're claiming that you've run off to Albania with a lover." Draco rolled his eyes and held the binder out for Harry. Harry snatched it and hugged it to his chest.

"Do you think I'll be sent to Azkaban?"

Draco shook his head. "No Harry. I've already been in touch with Dumbledore, he says he has somewhere else you can stay instead of with your relatives. You won't have to go back there again."

Harry was simultaneously relieved and panicked. "You didn't have to do that! Vernon just gets a little mad, that's all. It would've been fine!" Harry would've weathered the pain as he always did.

"Harry, bruises around your neck from him is not just 'a little mad'. That's abuse."

Harry's grip on his binder tightened and he clenched his jaw shut, unable and unwilling to talk about his uncle and family any further. Harry went up to the bathroom to change into his binder, and instantly felt more comfortable.

III

Harry and Draco fell into a kind of routine the week Harry stayed there. Harry was always awoken with breakfast and a chat with Draco. The two would go out for the day to muggle coffee shops and parks, just spending time relaxing together. Draco would glare at the muggles who stared at them until they went home for lunch. After lunch, Harry and Draco would debate over which Quidditch team was better and play their own mini Quidditch game in Draco's garden until dinner. After dinner, the two would sit on the couch to enjoy a film and sometimes, Draco would rest an arm around Harry's shoulders if he was okay with it. After that, they would each head to their separate rooms and Harry would finally free himself of his binder.

It was one of the most enjoyable weeks Harry had experienced in a long time, and it was over so quick. Harry and Draco met Dumbledore the day before Draco's parents were supposed to be back from their holiday. Harry had packed up all his belongings and was preparing himself for wherever he was supposed to stay next. What Harry wasn't expecting when Draco opened his front door, presumably to see Dumbledore, was to see Sirius Black. Harry lit up.

"Sirius!?" Sirius grinned and pulled Harry into a bone crushing hug. Harry laughed. "I thought you were on house arrest!"

Sirius smiled and let go of him. "It was lifted! You can now legally live with me!" Sirius rested his hands on Harry's shoulders and took a good look at him. "I am so sorry for all the things your aunt and uncle have done to you."

The mood darkened a little, and Harry attempted a smile. "I-it's fine. Let's just go home, yeah?" Sirius nodded and patted his shoulder.

"Alright, you can say good bye to your friend, I'll be outside."

As Sirius stepped outside, Harry and Draco stared at each other for a moment before rushing into a hug at the same time. Harry laughed a little and squeezed Draco. "I'm gonna miss you, Drake."

Draco rolled his eyes and rubbed Harry's back. "I told you not to call me that!"

Harry let go of him and stepped back, putting his hands in his pockets. "Ah you love it. I'll see you at school."

Draco nodded and waved good bye to Harry and Sirius as they apparated away. Draco didn't want to admit it, but he was going to miss having Harry around too much.

Harry's summer had turned from the worst summer he'd had to the best. First he'd spent an amazing week getting closer to Draco, and next he was bonding with his god father and his boyfriend. Harry couldn't even complain about Sirius and Remus kissing all the time, it felt like a real family to him. One night, after a delicious home cooked meal he knew he was going to miss, Sirius and Remus sat on each side of Harry at the couch.

Remus had broken out an old photo book, and Harry was having immense fun seeing a young, rebellious Sirius. Remus was smiling fondly.

"Oh Siri, even in photos you couldn't take your eyes off me."

Despite Sirius being a light shade of pink, he smiled. "Can you blame me?"

Harry enjoyed seeing his god father and, he supposed, his other father being so affectionate towards one another. It made Harry yearn for a relationship like theirs. Finally, they landed on a picture of Harry's parents. Harry sobered and went silent. Sirius's gentle voice broke the quiet.

"They would have loved to see the young man you've become, Harry."

Harry's eyes started to water and he quickly brushed the tears away. Suddenly he was crushed by a hug from both of his fathers. It wasn't sadness Harry felt, but immense joy. Hearing someone that was so close to his parents confirm Harry's deepest desire made his heart feel warm. Merlin was he going to miss these two when he left for Hogwarts.

III

Harry had two more people to wave good bye to him when he was on the train leaving to Hogwarts, other than the Weasley family. Harry waved good bye to his new parents until the train had rounded a corner and all the people he loved were obscured. Harry was more than delighted when Draco strode right into the car Harry was sitting at with his other friends and sat next to Harry. He just had to greet him with a quick, tight hug that left both boys smiling.

This year at Hogwarts, it was no longer the Golden Trio. It was the Golden Quartet...Everyone decided that the name would need some reworking, but Harry was just glad he had three friends that all got along with each other. And maybe, just maybe, Harry noticed too many things about Draco that year. He noticed the perfect roundness of Draco's arse, and the slender curve of Draco's Adams Apple when he tipped his head all the way back to laugh. He noticed that Draco's eye color would change in the light, and that his eye lashes were gorgeously long. Harry noticed the tranquil fluidity in which Draco would move.

Harry noticed his growing crush, and so did everyone else in the school. Except, of course, Draco. The one thing Harry didn't seem to notice though, was Draco's crush on him. Hermione and Ron often shared glances of This is gonna be a long year, isn't it?

I hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading! Yup, there will finally be some Drarry action in the next chapter. I'm terrible, I know.