Work Text
It was about a month before it occurred to Harry. They were laid out on a couch in the Room of Requirement one lazy Saturday afternoon, minds a bit blurry from both the butterbeer Harry had snuck in from Hogsmeade and the liberal snogging they had been doing.
As far as most people were concerned, Harry was currently with Ginny, and Draco with Pansy. Only a few close friends knew of their real whereabouts. The arrangement had come rather easily, as Harry and Draco had come to terms with their feelings around about the same time as the girls, and neither couple was ready to admit what was going on to the public. Ginny was already well-versed in being the girlfriend of The Chosen One, and she was one of the few people Harry felt comfortable showing physical affection to, so faking a relationship with her was easy. Draco and Pansy were practically attached at the hip, so nobody suspected a thing.
Harry was, truly, quite pleased with this plan, because it allowed him the peace to heal with and get to know Draco in a way that being public would not. Their relationship was fragile, and part of him worried that allowing too many people in on their secret would ruin what they had. Plus, it was a bit fun sneaking around. Indeed, some of his favorite memories of the year so far were of stolen moments with Draco, whether they involved bickering or kissing.
But it was only after quite a while that he realized Draco might not be as content.
“Does it ever bother you?” he spoke into the silence that day, causing Draco to jolt from some reverie.
“Potter! I was almost asleep.”
The Slytherin was clearly annoyed, as Harry was always ‘Potter’ when he frustrated Draco. He was only ever ‘Harry’ when Draco felt particularly vulnerable or sappy. Harry smirked, tightening his arms around the other boy, who was leaning back on his chest. “Sorry for interrupting your much-needed beauty sleep.”
Draco scoffed and answered his earlier question. “Does what bother me? Your refusal to use hair products? Yes, excruciatingly so.” But he said this with no malice, and reached back to run his long fingers through Harry’s admittedly messy hair.
Normally, that would have been the end of the conversation, as a touch from Draco was quite distracting, but now Harry really wondered… “Does it ever bother you that hardly anybody knows about us?”
Draco’s hand froze and he was silent for a moment. “I…no, Potter. Or…it shouldn’t. I was a Death Eater, after all. And you’re you. Who wouldn’t want to keep that quiet?”
But Harry narrowed his eyes, because this was not his reason for keeping it quiet at all. He sat up fully, gently pushing Draco off his chest and guiding him around so their eyes met, despite the other boy’s murmurs of distaste. “Malfoy. It has nothing to do with that,” Harry said emphatically, leaning in a bit, trying to convey emotions he had trouble putting to words.
But Draco just raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Harry thought for a moment. He remembered all the insane rumors from fourth year, the way things always got spun wildly out of control, the way the people he cared about always got caught in the crossfire. “D’you remember fourth year? With Rita Skeeter?”
But this was apparently the wrong thing to say, because Draco leaned away from him. “If you’re trying to remind me of all the stupid things I did, you know I–”
But Harry cut him off, trying to dig himself out of that hole. “No! No, I mean, do you remember how crazy it got? With…with the rumors and…and Hermione! Remember she got sent that envelope with that gross stuff that burnt her hands? Just because people thought she was with me and thought she was treating me poorly?” He winced, remembering the bandages on Hermione’s fingers.
Draco nodded, wincing a bit as well. “Yes…”
Harry felt a bit relieved when Draco didn’t continue to try to escape. “Well, what would they do to you? They have this...this idea of you that's...not true. They'd surely try to hurt you or...”
The Slytherin stared for a moment, then chuckled humorlessly. “Potter, I already get hexed once a week. You don’t think I can handle whatever they throw at me? I’m hardly some damsel in distress, and if you think I am, then maybe we should rethink this whole thing because–”
But Harry just rolled his eyes and interrupted. “No, you prat! I know you can handle yourself. I just..” He took a breath and tried to sift through the tornado of thoughts in his brain. “I don’t want to be the reason that happens to you. I’m not…” worth it, he finished in his head. “I can deal with the stupid rumors and the press, Draco, but I don’t want to put you through that. Plus…” he gulped, ignoring the feeling in his stomach as he voiced the vulnerable thought, “I like how things are.”
“You’re afraid things will change?” Draco asked. His voice was not teasing, but it was full of surprise, as if he truly couldn’t fathom that Harry enjoyed spending time with him, enjoyed how things were.
And when Harry looked down and nodded a minute amount, Draco scoffed again, almost turning Harry defensive before he felt a hand on his shoulder. “Potter–Harry. Don’t be an idiot.”
Harry looked up incredulously, opening his mouth to argue, but Draco continued.
“I am embarrassingly, mortifyingly infatuated with you. It’s disgusting, really,” Draco said, feigning a shudder. “No stupid article or malicious rumor or jealous middle-age hag will change that.”
And Harry grinned, laughing a bit at the proper way Draco confessed his feelings. “No?”
Draco wrinkled his nose. “Unfortunately not.”
-
One week later, the headline Foul Play? Death Eater Draco Malfoy Clearly Using Magic to Dominate Chosen One in Newly Announced “Relationship”
But Draco just sniffed and sipped his pumpkin juice, commenting lightly, “At least they got the dominating part right,” causing Harry to blush and choke on his toast while Ron gagged into his eggs.